Author's Note: Hello again! We return with yet another chapter. This one may explain a few things, including several one shots. Plot holes shall be filled! Ish. The Plot Bunnies don't always obey.

Thanks to everyone that reviewed! We like you! And Cream Puff? Here are your Predators. We ARE showing you what we got.

We hope you all enjoy this chapter. Read and Review, please! It makes us happy.

Disclaimer: We don't own anything. We are not making money. Seriously.

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Chapter 2: The Pursuit is Set in Motion

Tvrtko lounged in his bunk, admiring a few of the trophies he had deemed worthy enough to bring with him on this journey. It was relatively quiet, as his three roommates were out. He was enjoying the peace and privacy while he could. He rolled onto his back, eyes sliding shut. It was difficult trading sleeping shifts with Dho'mago'te, but necessary. If they both slept at the same time, there was a possibility that one, or both, of them would wake up injured. More than likely it would be him.

He scowled, wondering how Dho'mago'te had managed to convince him that the top bunk was the best choice for the larger of them. Sighing, he resigned himself to never understanding his friend's tricks. He settled in, preparing to rest his eyes for a bit, when a shadow covered him. Opening his eyes, he locked gazes with the object of his mild irritation.

"Hey, Tvrtko? I have a question." The red warrior said as continued leaning over the bunk, head quirked to one side.

"What is it?"

"I heard that the very young Kainde Amedha look like parts of our body. And the EGGS look like FEMALE parts. Is it TRUE?"

Tvrtko blinked, then glowered at Dho'mago'te. "Having never seen one of the eggs OR a female part, I can't say if it's true or not. "

Dho'mago'te furrowed his brow. Gesturing towards his lower body, he pressed further. "But, what about the OTHER part? Do they really look like us?"

Tvrtko quirked his eyebrow, smirking. "Once again, I wouldn't know. You have more experience in THAT area."

Dho'mago'te pulled back, gaping as he contemplated his partner's words, a look of scandalized horror stealing across his features. With a roar, he yanked Tvrtko from his bunk and a wrestling match commenced.

As the two were rolling about on the floor, their other two roommates entered. Gazing in confusion at the roiling pile of limbs on the floor, they looked at each other and shrugged.

"Idiots."

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Tvrtko and Dho'mago'te were blowing off some steam with a sparring match. It had already been a long journey, and there was still a long ways to go. The two circled each other, hunting for openings.

Tvrtko spotted a gap in Dho'mago'te's defense and lunged, trying to get in a solid hit. The taller warrior noticed the hole and grabbed Tvrtko's wrist, stopping the punch, before hauling the dark warrior above his head. Tvrtko thrashed, trying to get out of his partner's grasp.

"Hey, Tvrtko? I have a question."

Tvrtko paused in his struggles, staring down into Dho'mago'te's curious face in mild disbelief. "NOW? It couldn't have waited until AFTER the match?"

"No, it couldn't. It's important."

Tvrtko sighed, resigning himself to, once again, attempting to answer one of Dho'mago'te's stupid questions. Dho'mago'te's serious face was the only thing keeping him from taking advantage of his comrade's distraction and escaping. "Well?"

"Why do we have to Hunt?"

Tvrtko rolled his eyes. "I already answered this question when we first became hunting partners."

Dho'mago'te frowned. "You didn't. You just told me why YOU had to Hunt. You didn't answer about people like me, who have other goals."

Tvrtko whipped one of his fists down onto Dho'mago'te's head, causing the large warrior to lose his grip. The smaller dropped, rolling as he hit the floor, standing into a defensive position. He lunged forward at his recovering friend, unleashing a few blows, before landing a solid kick to his legs, sending Dho'mago'te to the floor.

The larger warrior blinked before standing, glowering at Tvrtko. "FINE. DON'T answer then. I don't care anyway. I'm going to get something to eat."

As Dho'mago'te walked to the door, he stopped as Tvrtko spoke.

"I really don't know why Yautja hunt. It's just the way it is."

Dho'mago'te smiled sadly over his shoulder, waving, before vanishing into the hall.

Tvrtko frowned, cursing the fact that Dho'mago'te thought about things too much.

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Tvrtko stood in front of a flickering screen, researching the Oomans and their planet. He knew the stories and legends, but he wanted the facts, not fiction.

As he continued his perusal, he failed to notice Dho'mago'te slipping up next to him, reading over his shoulder.

"Hey, Tvrtko? I have a question."

Tvrtko started, whirling to face the large warrior. "What is it THIS time?"

"Is it true that Ooman females are in heat ALL the time?"

Tvrtko looked at him, before turning back to his screen. "Why do you think I know the answer to these things? You're the one that's so interested in Oomans. Why don't YOU go find out?"

Dho'mago'te made a face, imitating a gagging noise. "That's nasty! Who does that? Besides, they'd break too easily. I need a REAL woman."

The black skinned warrior continued skimming his document. "As if any REAL women would want you."

Dho'mago'te huffed. "As if any of them would choose YOU. They'd definitely choose ME over YOU. No contest."

"You keep telling yourself that. Besides, it's not how big you are. It's how you use it."

The red warrior let his mouth hang open. It opened and shut a few times as he attempted to form a good retort. He snarled, turning to stomp off. "As if any of the females would let you try and prove that! And MY trophy case is better than YOURS anyway! So there!"

Tvrtko waited until his friend had stormed away around the corner before chuckling to himself.

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Tvrtko was not happy. He felt crowded. He disliked most of the other Yautja on the ship, and hated most of the rest. It had been a long trip and he was ready to break away from the other Young Bloods. They were the ones that irritated him the most.

Scowling at the others gathering with him in the training room, he continued checking for Dho'mago'te. They were due to get their coordinates for the Ooman planet today.

Finally, he spotted his friend's head, well above the others surrounding him. Dho'mago'te made his way to Tvrtko and leaned against the wall to Tvrtko's right.

"Hey, Tvrtko?"

Tvrtko interrupted his comrade. "Dho'mago'te. If this is another of your stupid questions, I would consider rethinking asking it. I am NOT in a good mood."

Dho'mago'te paused for a moment, thinking, then opened his mouth again. "Do –"

Whatever Dho'mago'te had been about to ask was cut short by the sound of Tvrtko releasing his wrist blades. Dho'mago'te looked down at the weapons, then to Tvrtko's face and back to the blades. He frowned, turning from his shorter partner, and proceeded to stare at the floor.

Tvrtko returned his blades to their proper place and continued glaring out at the mob before him.

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The ship was nearing its destination. All the Young Bloods had gathered to receive their orders from the Elder in charge of their ship. Many of the young males were jostling each other, with occasional brawls breaking out. Two of the Yautja were off to the side of the general chaos, trying to ignore the others about them. The larger of the two, who was reddish in color, was staring pensively at the floor. He looked to his left, down to his shadowy partner. "What do you think the meaning of life is?"

Tvrtko refused to even think about a decent response. "42."

Dho'mago'te quirked his head, obviously pondering his friend's answer. "Wait, that doesn't make any sense! What does a number have to do with anything?"

Tvrtko finally looked up, exasperated, when the room became mostly silent, with the exception of one wrestling match in the far end of the room. This was quickly ended when the Elder strode in, cape billowing behind him. He stood at the front of the room, gazing imperiously about the space. When this did not inspire the proper awe from the battling twosome, he went over and delivered a swift kick to each of the combatants, separating them with ease.

One of the fighters whirled about, ready to fight the interloper, until he realized who it was that had interrupted them. The young male blanched, trilling his apology, before slinking into the surrounding crowd. The Elder nodded, well satisfied, before returning to the front of the room. Looking out at the sea of Yautja, he scowled. "We are near to our destination, as you have no doubt realized. You idiots will soon be assigned your posts on the Ooman planet. Listen closely for your names."

In groups of two or three, the Young Bloods were called forward for their coordinates. As the processing continued, the two Yautja on the outskirts were called and they went forward through the crowd of other males. Insults were whispered towards them, but the two partners ignored the harsh words.

"Kainde Amedha spawn."

"His father is so short that his mother mistook him for an Ooman."

"He's so cowardly, he hides behind the biggest Yautja to be found."

A foot shot out of the crowd, attempting to trip up Tvrtko. He easily avoided the idiotic effort at sabotage. He continued on towards the front, when he noticed Dho'mago'te was missing. Turning back, he saw that his friend had lifted the offending male off the ground, snarling into his face.

Tvrtko struggled to hide his smile. "Dho'mago'te. Come. We've Kainde Amedha to hunt. Besides, that wouldn't make a good trophy."

The red giant promptly dropped the flailing fool, turning to catch up to Tvrtko. The fallen Yautja got to his feet, visibly shaken and pretending he was not affected.

As Dho'mago'te reached Tvrtko, a voice came out from the crowd.

"Ooman lover!"

Dho'mago'te shrugged. He was used to such insults. He started when a surprised bellow came from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Tvrtko's wrist blades buried in the gut of the Yautja who had been foolish enough to continue the insults.

Dho'mago'te pouted. "No fair, Tvrtko! How come YOU get to hurt one? I NEVER get to hurt them!"

Tvrtko calmly unsheathed his weapon from the torso it was currently residing in. "I don't know what you're talking about. My blades slipped. He just happened to be in the way. That's all."

The rest of the mob prepared to launch an attack, some roaring challenges, when the Elder intervened. "That happens to me all the time. Stupid idiots standing too close to weapons. Shame on them. Now get to the front."

Dho'mago'te and Tvrtko readily complied, shooting each other questioning glances. Why would an Elder step in on their behalf? No one else ever had.

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They knew where they were stationed. It was some dry area in the lower portion of the landmass in the upper hemisphere. It wasn't the best location, but the best hunting areas were given to the more experienced hunters. It was only proper.

Tvrtko and Dho'mago'te were walking back towards their lodgings to rest. They needed to be at their best in this Hunt. Conversing about battle strategy, they were brought up short by a larger group of other Young Bloods.

Tvrtko and Dho'mago'te eyed the others around them, cautious. This wasn't the first time they had been attacked. Dho'mago'te spoke first. "We'd like to pass. Please move."

The leader of the rabble strode up to the giant. "Feel free to leave, Dho'mago'te. We just want the small one."

Dho'mago'te shook his head. "I will stay with Tvrtko. Let us pass, So'zilr."

So'zilr chittered angrily. "Why do you stand with that disgrace to all Hunters? He isn't worthy to be among us. All of his other blood relations are inferior. One of them even fled in shame, branded a Bad Blood! Why don't you leave him and join with those who are worthy of you?"

Dho'mago'te frowned. Tvrtko had been clenching his fist, keeping his fury in check. The larger warrior looked down at the Yautja insulting his partner. "Tvrtko IS the only one worthy of me. He is a thousand times the Hunter any of you will ever be. And HE wouldn't have allowed prey to injure him so."

Reaching a hand to his lower left mandible, scarred and torn from acid burns on his Blooding hunt, So'zilr snarled in rage. "Fine. Continue being a fool. We'll simply teach you a lesson along with the worthless one."

The gang took this as their cue to begin closing in their circle, surrounding Dho'mago'te and Tvrtko. Wrist blades were unsheathed, threats uttered, yet the two in the center remained unimpressed.

So'zilr and one other charged for Dho'mago'te, blades at the ready. The red warrior handled them easily, deflecting their blades with his own, sending So'zilr flying with one solid punch. The other Yautja threw his own attacks, but Dho'mago'te grabbed his opponent's wrist, whipping him about, and hurled the helpless attacker into a nearby wall.

A third attacker had charged for Tvrtko, marking the small black one as an easy win. He readied his dagger, fully focused on his target. Tvrtko stood calmly, watching, waiting. At the last second, before the weapon hit, Tvrtko pushed off, vaulting over the head of the startled Young Blood. The dark warrior landed behind his attacker, kicking him in the small of the back.

The offender sprawled on the floor, scrambling for his dropped dagger, trying to get up and prepare to face Tvrtko once more. As Tvrtko prepared to strike with his wrist blades and Dho'mago'te prepared to throw more Yautja into the walls, a voice cut through the din.

"WHAT is going on here? All of you! You're being sent out soon! Go to your bunks and prepare!"

An older male came down the hall, his own weapons ready to knock disobedient heads. The younger males backed off and dispersed, still snarling insults and threats towards the misfits. Dho'mago'te stood straight, ensuring that all of his own weapons were still in place.

He and Tvrtko left as well, keeping an even closer eye out for any surprise attacks. It was not an honorable way to attack, but it had happened previously. Dho'mago'te gazed down at his partner. "Tvrtko? Are you well?"

Tvrtko didn't look up and gazed angrily ahead. "That idiot didn't hit me. He'd never be able to."

Dho'mago'te hesitated, before trying again. "I did not mean physically. I know you are a great warrior. I meant about, you know, what they said. You usually don't stay angry this long."

Tvrtko sighed, finally looking his friend in the eye. "Why do you stay with me, Dho'mago'te? You are also a great warrior. I'm sure if you did join them, or join as a partner with others of your clan, you wouldn't go through this. You would be highly respected."

"I stay with you because you are whom I wish to hunt with. No others can compare to your speed and skill."

The two stepped into their quarters, the other two Yautja already asleep in their respective bunks. Dho'mago'te hauled his huge form into the upper bunk, making it creak ominously, before the noise quieted. Tvrtko slid underneath, staring up into the darkness. The two lay in silence for many moments.

"Tvrtko… Is it true? About the Bad Blood." Dho'mago'te whispered into the darkness.

Sighing, the small warrior turned on his side, facing the wall. "He was desperate. I can't fault him. A warrior should not be trapped as he was."

The silence descended once more and Dho'mago'te offered to take the first watch. Tvrtko declined, saying he wished to stay up longer. The red Yautja settled in, easily slipping into slumber, his deep breathing sounding loudly in the quiet.

Tvrtko continued staring at nothing, thinking.

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Their small transporter sped through the thin atmosphere of the Ooman planet and the two Yautja gazed down upon their specified hunting territory. Dho'mago'te snorted. "It looks so BORING. I can't see any Kainde Amedha at all. And where's the cover?"

Tvrtko carefully steered the craft towards a good landing site. "Boring or not, this is where we must hunt. We'll be fine."

Dho'mago'te sat back in his seat, glowering out the window at the surrounding desert. "Can't we explore a bit before we land? They don't need to hear from us for another day or so. Let's go into the cold zones while we still can. This could be our only chance!"

Tvrtko thought on this. He wasn't exactly thrilled with their hunting grounds either. And this WAS their first time to the lands of the Oomans. "All right, but only into the areas that weren't assigned yet. I don't wish to encroach on another's territory."

Dho'mago'te nodded enthusiastically and their ship turned, heading into the cold zone.

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Dho'mago'te was gazing out the window, taking in the varying scenery they passed over. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of something odd. "Hey, Tvrtko? I have a question."

Looking up from his meters, Tvrtko glared. "I told you, that if you said that one more time –"

"Look! This is important! That grouping of Kainde Amedha are acting strangely! Can we check it out? Don't stab me!"

Tvrtko tilted the ship, allowing himself a view of the plains below. He then understood Dho'mago'te's confusion.

Below them was a fairly large grouping of Kainde Amedha, which in and of itself was not unusual. What WAS strange was that some of the beasts were breaking off, chasing a small object. The herd began following after whatever the moving speck was, beginning a chase.

The two looked at each other, before Tvrtko nodded and set the ship on a parallel course, to follow the herd.

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The Yautja gazed down from their vantage point, curiously watching the spectacle unfolding in front of them. An Ooman vehicle was charging through the dusty plain, blasting noise, with a hundred odd Kainde Amedha behind it.

Tvrtko shook his head, ready to turn back to their parked ship. "Come, Dho'mago'te. There's no point in watching this any further. Those stupid Oomans can't escape while making that much noise. They'll be dead in minutes."

Dho'mago'te continued looking down from the cliff, cocking his head to one side as the small transporter vanished into a canyon, the Kainde Amedha following close behind, though a few broke off here and there.

Turning his back as well, Dho'mago'te began to follow his partner, when a huge explosion rocked the landscape, sending the two warriors into defensive crouches. When they established it was no attack on them, the turned back to the plain.

A cloud of dust soared into the air where the canyon had been, the cliffs reduced to a monstrous pile of rubble. The Ooman vehicle appeared from out of the haze, shooting back the way it had come, now silent.

Dho'mago'te broke the shocked silence, sending out a loud whoop. "That was GREAT! Did you SEE that, Tvrtko? No one ever said the Oomans used tactics like that! Just look at how many Kainde Amedha they killed in one shot! Do you think we could try that sometime?"

Tvrtko didn't like where this was going. "No. We have to leave, Dho'mago'te. We have our hunting location. We can't stay any longer."

The two started again when another burst was heard. A bright light shone in the darkening sky, shining clearly for miles. It seemed to have come again from the Oomans.

"We have to follow them!" Dho'mago'te pleaded with his friend. "Just look at how clever they are! We can learn so much! For SCIENCE!"

Tvrtko wavered. He did wish to observe these Oomans, but he had no desire to anger any of the leaders, particularly the Elder. "We really shouldn't, Dho'mago'te. I know they seem interesting, but we have our orders. Besides, they're just Oomans."

Dho'mago'te pouted, gazing at the quickly vanishing vehicle. He quickly came to a decision and took off after the Ooman warriors. He knew Tvrtko wouldn't leave him behind.

Staring at the retreating back of his friend, Tvrtko sighed, before turning on his cloaking device. He easily caught up to the larger warrior. "If you don't want to be discovered, you could at LEAST cloak yourself."

Dho'mago'te grinned behind his mask, switching on his device, and the two Yautja ran, pursuing their new prey.