BLOODWIND: A SOUL'S WORTH

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

? POV

The blood trail grew easier to follow he could almost smell it. The creature that had decimated its world and mainly the females. It had no mercy and went after the cubs. It was no prey. When they had returned to their home world they were proud. They have found a creature as formidable as the Kainde Amedha. And could breed without the need for hosts which would also letting the risk of young hunters getting infected slim to none. They first had to prove this animal in front of the council. They went to an artificial dome which they had built for young ones to get practice under the watch of their masters, to point out their flaws and fix them before their blood trial. They decided to put the creature there. The top hunters would go out and hunt for it. If it survived till sunset, then it would become their new hunt for some of the blood trials. if not well then, they had made a fool of themselves instead of making a trophy.

What had happened next no one foresaw. It was far more dangerous than the last time. The hunter could not help but think that maybe it had allowed itself to be captured but why? To bring death and ruin?

When the morning came for the beasts trial, the scientists were slightly antsy, it was with cubs, it was still early but what if they lost all of them. The council argued if it could not protect itself and its young it was not worthy (They would not do that to any hyper sapient being or an animal that was perhaps 3 months pregnant but they figured what's the point of letting pests breed you know). So, the test continued.

It had evaded them with skill, seemed to be taunting them as time and again it evaded them. Used their own traps against them and mimicked their clicking. The council were impressed but were not going to let it go that easily so they continued hunting.

It broke out. It had gotten hold of one of the hunters and chewed on its blast it had went off quite a few times making an opening inside the dome. The creature then showed its true colours.

After its means for escape had opened it tore through the warrior and left him dead before leaping at an unnatural speed towards the exit before they could get the forcefields up. Carnage was the only thing to explain what followed. It wasn't camouflage the thing was downright invisible. It tore through their cities like a hurricane in the tropics on earth, not caring what was in its way. Blood covered the streets and soon rotting flesh. I had its pups but like the Kainde Amedha it took only a few hours for them to be full grown and wreak havoc upon them.

They went after the females mostly, attacking them killing them or maiming them that no advanced medicine could heal for them to bear pups. These creatures were twice as intelligent as they appeared and were ruthless. It took nearly more than half of their female population to realise that they were targeting the females. Maiming them to not bear pups or killing them.

The council had met and agreed to try send of the females to a different planet till they could capture and kill these creatures or try to use them in a hunt. They had gathered the remaining females using all their warriors to help guard them as they put them on transports. Their masks off (seeing as they were useless anyway) the flared their mandibles tasting the air. The one thing these creatures had was a unique scent. Scientist were working on masks to be able to pick up the scent signatures instead. For now, they would have to use the superior senses to guard their females. Already half a litter of new pups had been destroyed and they could not understand it. They had to admit compared to the Kainde Amedha this was a formidable creature they had underestimated and were now paying for that miscalculation. They hoped they could catch it and use it hunts. As the last of the females had been put on the ship, one hunter (who had insisted on its death after it broke out and bred) was surprised that they had not attacked yet. They were intelligent creatures and it's not like this wasn't a prime opportunity to do so, they had already formed plans for this. They had stationed themselves strategically for any attack in fact they were hoping for it. But none came. The hunter could not help but feel his stomach twist in a knot. Something was going on something they missed. He tried to tell an elder but dismissed it as paranoia though the elder did admit these creatures were formidable they had underestimated them and it cost them dearly. If worse came to worse they would implode the planet if they were unable to capture or terminate them. That made the young warrior less un easy but the knot in his stomach refused to go. He had survived trusting his instincts his body and something told him letting all the females go was a bad idea. He cursed himself every night afterward for not pushing this feeling.

As the most alpha of the females watched as they left their home world she could not help but shadow her hand over her womb. She was luck to survive, her pup not so much, he showed so much promise to be a great hunter. The pups father was distraught. Though they had many pups together it didn't change the fact it hurt to lose one. She had tried her best to slay the wolf beast, but it was large over powered her. She held on long enough for her mate and other hunters to come but not before it had stripped her of being able to give life. The scars would remain there were many who needed help after the attacks and she was not the only one with scars. She looked to her sister her whole left face disfigured a mandible missing. Her womb destroyed. She had never had pups yet. She had not found a mate worthy enough and now she never will. The hurt of never bearing children stung. She wished to be dead instead. The air was slightly thick these ships were not made for so many of them at once but this was an emergency the remaining pups and females had to now move on. They may return or they may not.

The alpha female turned to the rest of ship her eyes sweeping over her people. They would come back from this stronger and better. She hoped they captured the beasts and used them in hunts, so she may exact her own revenge upon them. She turned to her home world once more and let out a cough her mandibles flaring widely. For a moment, she saw black specs floating in the air. She shook her head, she was exhausted she hadn't had proper rest since the attack. She looked at her sister who also let out a cough. She too looked tired. Yes, she would collect her sister and find quarters for them to rest in the time being. She pulled herself away from the window. Touching her sisters shoulder she gave an unspoken question to her sibling who answered by following her off the deck. As they left several females could have sworn they had seen black specs before their eyes. But they shrugged it off as exhaustion or grief. Not realising that they were dying from the inside out.

Its master would be pleased, the plan had worked out perfectly, though "superior" to the humans they had the same arrogance of being better than any species that did not look think or act like them. It couldn't believe its luck. It was fairly easy to break out, even though it could carry out the plan on its own, time was of the essence it had taken longer than it thought to reach its destination by then it had started its breeding process or in this case self-replication to complete its task. It could not kill all the females and cubs no not on its own and it needed to look like a tragic set of events. So, while it maimed the females it infected with what the hunter creatures would soon call Nan-de than-gaun. The reason being it turned their insides black a sort of poison that infected them from the inside out and turned their lips and eyes as black as the night. Their hearts would implode and there was no cure. Not every disease is 100% effective so that's why he made the ones that were maimed unaffected just carriers. Their lack of womb would protect them as the Nan-de than-gaunt, went for that specially therefore they were safe and the master's plans could be carried out. Yes, even some of the cubs would be infected and die if they were to weak. In the mean while he would do his best to lower the warrior's numbers so that they would have no choice but to do the masters wishes. It knew they would implode the planet once they felt over run, but in the meantime, he could do a lot of damage. While they were busy loading the females, he went to a village and killed as many as he could from there, even a few high council members whatever the hell that is. Though some were in space hunting it wouldn't stop the infection. Even the males carried it, yes, he had done his best to cover all the basics. Once the planet implodes and he will return to his master's side. Maybe he would reward it with a fresh soul. Hmm just thinking about it made it want the plan to succeed even more. Yes, master should be pleased with him. Soon the Yaut'ja would be semi extinct and their only option would be to find a species compatible with theirs and breed to rebuld again. The only species they will find that can be compatible with their genes and hold their offspring for at least 10 months would be the Pyode Amedha their once prey will now be their saviours. Enough of that now back to the task at hand. An old blooded warrior was now shifting through the market place mask off mandibles flaring slightly. His head facing forward glancing sideways his steps cautious and calculated. Listening for anything. 3other blooded warriors watching his blind spots they were younger than him. A few, meters over he could smell another group. The beast cocked its head to the side. It didn't know whether to play with them or kill them. Then again it hadn't had this much fun in centuries. With that thought it decided to start mimicking the clicking noises of a pup, enjoying the smell of reptilian adrenaline as he did so. Yes, why not have fun. Master did say he could take his time…

I don't own twilight or predators.

Yugita Translation

Nan-de than-gaun: The kiss of midnight

Yaut'ja / Yautja: Predator Species Name

Kainde Amedha: Hard Meat (Xenomorphs)

Pyode Amedha: Soft Meat (Humanoids)