CHAPTER 3- Where's that Eraser?

Pencil-Pusher Says: So u didn't manage to find anything that suggested a break-in?

AlphaArtist Says: Nada. And it's the same thing every time. I paint, then the thing goes back to how it originally was.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Odd…U sure u're not sleepwalking or anything? I mean, that's the only thing I can come up with…

AlphaArtist Says: I used to sleepwalk when I was younger, like 14 or something, but that hasn't happened in years!

Pencil-Pusher Says: U have a better explanation? May I suggest a priest?

AlphaArtist Says: You have a point…And to think I came out here to RELAX.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Next thing u know, u'll be going around wielding a chainsaw making a mask out of people's skins…

AlphaArtist Says: LOL! And you'll be my first victim.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Can't wait ;)

AlphaArtist Says: Odd fetishes aside…How are your sketches? Managed to get anything that the publishing house might consider?

Pencil-Pusher Says: Damn, I was hoping for some cyber-lovin'….

AlphaArtist Says: Shot down in real life AND in the cyber world. ZING!

AlphaArtist Says: Damn I'm good.

Pencil-Pusher Says: But I sent u some things. Got my e-mail?

AlphaArtist Says:…You mean THOSE were your ideas?

Pencil-Pusher Says: Ok. Ouch.

AlphaArtist Says: Sorry. But my first impression was that they looked like typical monsters. Godzilla, King Kong, werewolves, etc…Have you been visiting the zoo with Ash again?

Pencil-Pusher Says: Got shot down there too, lol. She's a real bitch. I like it :) But u said that the publishers wanted a monster that terrorized people. People are scared of large animals.

AlphaArtist Says: No, people are scared of something chasing them. I've seen body-builders running from squirrels because it was following them.

Pencil-Pusher Says: LMAO!

Pencil-Pusher Says: Man I wished I could have seen that…

AlphaArtist Says: Give me something simple but effective. Something that's primitive…A hunter or something, a seeker.

AlphaArtist Says: Something that is intelligent. People are scared of intelligence.

Pencil-Pusher Says: In that case, u must be terrorized…Run Terri! RUN!

AlphaArtist Says: Cute.

WannaBManga-Ka has joined the conversation>

WannaBManga-Ka Says: Sorry I'm late logging-in.

Pencil-Pusher Says: No problem man. In fact, u're just in time for a cyber-threesome!

WannaBManga-Ka Says: …

AlphaArtist Says: Ignore the sexually deprived fool.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: lol I'll try to.

Pencil-Pusher Says: HEY:(

AlphaArtist Says: Whatcha got for me Sam?

WannaBManga-Ka Says: See for yourself.

WannaBManga-Ka is sending AlphaArtist: "MovieMons.jpg" file(s). Accept: Ctrl+Enter. Deny: Del>

File(s) Accepted>

Downloading file(s)…>

Complete>

AlphaArtist Says: Nice. Very nice. You got the basic idea I was going for. Primitive.

Pencil-Pusher Says: What is it?

Pencil-Pusher Says: Is it better than mine?

WannaBManga-Ka Says: You know it, bitch. You can't compare to my 1337 skillz!

AlphaArtist Says: …You DID NOT just do that…

AlphaArtist Says: Sam, what are you, like 31?

WannaBManga-Ka Says: In real life I am. Once in the cyber world I am a SINGLE 25/M. It's harmless play really.

Pencil-Pusher Says: PEDOPHILE PEDOPHILE PEDOPHILE PEDOPHILE PEDOPHILE PEDOPHILE

WannaBManga-Ka Says: Takes one to know one.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Haven't heard that one since high school.

AlphaArtist Says: Children, children, let's get back on topic, shall we? Ok, Joshua, I need you to step away from oversized animals but still retain that primitive aspect of a predatory creature. Sam, yours are good but are a bit too humanized. Lessen the human look to your creatures, at least in the facial area. If you can, make them hunch over or something. I don't want the audience to connect with this monster, only the protagonist. It's a bloodthirsty predatory creature that hunts humans, got that?

WannaBManga-Ka Says: Gotcha Terri.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Gotcha.

Pencil-Pusher Says: 1 question though. How primitive do u want this thing to be? Like a Yeti or something? Neanderthal? Girl locked up in a cabin on the mountains?

Pencil-Pusher Says: ZING!

WannaBManga-Ka Says: LOL! Nice.

AlphaArtist Says: Cute…Give me anything that you have in mind so far. From absolute prehistoric to something a little less primal. This creature has to be able to track down humans in both a jungle and a city with ease.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: So weapons should be…? Or scratch the weapons let it's own body be the weapon?

AlphaArtist Says: Hmm…Haven't thought that far. I was so busy with the rough designs…You know what? Just show me a wide variety of whatever comes out of your ass. Spears, guns, knives, teeth, claws …You get the idea. A little bit of everything but don't overdo it. Remember, it's a Hunter. Hunters don't carry grenade launchers.

Pencil-Pusher Says: That WOULD be a cool idea…

AlphaArtist Says: Whatever. You want to use it? Fine. Work with it. Give me a variety of everything.

AlphaArtist Says: Has anyone seen CRAYOLA ? She hasn't logged on yet.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: Nope.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Haven't heard from her since the last meeting.

AlphaArtist Says: Someone save this conversation and send it to her please. I don't want any of my artists bitching about how I wasn't specific enough.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: I got it. You're welcome.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: What about you? We haven't seen any of your stuff yet.

AlphaArtist Says: I'm busy. That's all you need to know. Besides, it's kinda hard to find the perfect predatory creature amongst the birds and squirrels.

Pencil-Pusher Says: How about a killer deer?

Pencil-Pusher Says: OMFG! That was genius!

AlphaArtist Says: Ok. Keep it. Work with it.

Pencil-Pusher Says: Ok then, I have to log off. C ya later. Terri, I might not be on for the next meeting so I might send you an e-mail again.

Pencil-Pusher may not reply because he/she is offline>

WannaBManga-Ka Says: Can't find inspiration in the mountains? Look out the window, there's bound to be your inspiration right there.

AlphaArtist Says: Yeah right. Sure, I'll look right behind me and right there is going to be EXACTLY what I'm looking for in all its perfected glory. My muse would be out of the job.

WannaBManga-Ka Says: You never know…

(-)

How long is this creature going to be in front of that infernal flat machine of hers?

Over two precious hours wasted on observing a dangerous creature and she spent her time doing…something over a flat machine with a glowing screen and what appeared to be a keyboard or something of the sort. There were times when she let out a sound, that hideous garbled ooman version of laughter, but other than that she simply remained laid down on a large, ugly (and possibly dirty), piece of furnishing with that oddly flat machine on her lap. Two hours of sitting on a large boulder directly in front of the ooman's dwelling place would test anyone's patience. Especially if your cloaking device was heating up your body and making you sweat a good deal. And especially if you couldn't feel your legs from the waist down, only a light tingling sensation. On top of that there were these buzzing insects that seemed to have grown a taste for his blood and were driving him absolutely insane! No matter how many times he smacked around his dreadlocks to shoo them away they always came back. Like miniature Kiande Amedha. But he couldn't relax, oh no, one never knew if that ooman was playing bluff and would attack when he least expected it. A good Hunter was always on alert…even if that numbing sensation was threatening to crawl up towards the rest of his body.

So much for trying to gain the painting again. For all he knew, she was going to be up all night. That meant an entire night on NOT Hunting but rather babysitting a very precious piece of cloth from the ooman. If she even dared to touch his painting again with her infernal dyes he would…do…something…very, very horrible, but not so horrible as to break his Code, but still pretty bad. Maybe vandalism. To distract her of course. Pure distraction, not out of cowardice. Not that he couldn't take on an ooman…maybe not a female ooman, not that he ever tried, but he wasn't about to find out his limitations right now either.

Guan-da slapped the back of his neck.

Damn this planet's insects…

After a while Guan-da' began to grow slightly more curious at what exactly that female ooman was doing with that machine. Her fingers kept on dancing over the board gingerly. Typing definitely. But what? Codes? Communication?

Was the ooman's technology powerful enough to rival his own? Could she be tracking down his beacons? Could she be tracking him down right now? She could be very well aware that he was right there behind her! Then he would be trapped because with that advanced technology of hers she could easily disable his ship and his weapons and his cloaking device and he would be spotted and she would sense him and attack him and he wouldn't stand a chance without his burner and his spear could only do so much but by then she would have easily best him or more oomans could have arrived and the Hunter becomes the Hunted and he would end up in HER trophy wall.

Stop. Being. Paranoid.

I'm not being paranoid. I'm being cautious.

Stop arguing with yourself.

I'm not arguing with myself. I'm - …

Damn.

Maybe being two hours sitting on a large boulder directly in front of the ooman's dwelling place was NOT the best of choices at the moment. It had been a long day and it seems as if it was going to be an even longer night. The tire was toying with his mind. He wouldn't be able to concentrate properly if he couldn't think straight. And talking with one's self was not a healthy sign either. Hunters were focused. Hunters were prepared. Fatigue and stress only added to the distraction. Distractions were unnecessary. If he got distracted then he wouldn't be able to react properly should the ooman decide to attack and if that were to happen then the female ooman could easily get the upper hand on him, he would retaliate, but she could best him and he would try to fight her off but he wouldn't be able to because she was a female, and an ooman, and female oomans were just as bad, if not worse, than his specie's females so he obviously didn't stand a chance but if were to die at the ooman's hands he would at least die with Honor and that was a good thing but then –

What was that sound?

Ooman!

He clutched the spear at his side, leaning forward slightly but at the same time a swift retreat never looked so tempting…

No, small rodent with a bushy tail.

GHA! Stop it!

Some c'ntlip in his storage room could drown the worries. Yes. Yes, that should work. Leave the ooman for now before his own nerves became the death of him.

Guan-da' would need a lot of c'ntlip then.