Scar, Friend or Foe p.II

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Predator or AvP.

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BEFORE: The challenge was issue. Many warriors in the cavernous room rushed to defeat the Ooman who had helped kill a Queen. An Ooman who had the mark of their clan on her cheek. But Ragtok claimed the challenge as his own battle, throwing back other competitors. He attacks Lex, not only physically, but mentally as well as he stabs ruthlessly at her doubts. Preys on her fears. He gains the upper hand and nearly slaughters Lex. But the female Ooman begins to retaliate with pure fury. Ragtok tries to kill her before she kills him. Scar plunges into the crowd, his view of Lex cut-off and his mood dark.
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Scar's heart pounded in his ears.

Where was she? Why was she down?

The yellowish-brownish Yautja pushed past the other warriors, all attention on the little ring the Yautja made around the fight. A few snarled at Scar's complete and utter rudeness, wondering if the Young Blood was looking to start a fight himself.

But Scar just growled back, barely paying them any attention as he continued shoving his way towards the challenge.

If she was dead...

Scar's mandibles tightened as he dispelled the thought with a snarl, continuing his forward surge through the undulating crowd. From each warrior resonated a glorious shout for blood and glory, clawed fists pumping into the air, heads tilted back for the occasional roar. More than a few shifted and attempted to push back the Yautja that so easily shoved them aside. But Scar was gone by then, his dreadlocks disappearing into the mass of warriors and armored bodies.

-o-o-o-

Lex caught the glint of the dagger before she even saw it move.

Ragtok was trying to finish her off quick now, was he?

Hands still occupied with the foot attempting to crush her, all Lex could do at the moment was jerk her head a little to the side.

With a 'CLANG' the knife nicked the floor, missing her face and neck by mere inches.

Growling, Ragtok jabbed once more, his large form towering over her small one pinned on the floor. But once again, Lex managed to move her head just enough to keep from getting killed.

"Why won't you just DIE?" Ragtok growled, his hot and putrid breath rolling over Lex.

Coughing, Lex commented wryly, "With a stink like that, I'm wondering the same thing myself."

Furious that she could still joke when he was obviously in the middle of killing her, Ragtok's mandibles flared, a short roar bursting from within.

He tossed the dagger aside, his attention still on the puny Ooman before him.

"I don't need a dagger to kill you. I'll just snap your neck." Ragtok declared, his fist clenching dangerously.

Lex's arms trembled, still managing to keep his large foot from her. But now her eyes had to watch his hands warily. With hands as big as those and a neck as small as hers, she was sure he could break it as easily as she could snap a twig.

Then Lex noticed the smallest, most imperceptible, miracle that she could've ever hoped for. She felt his weight shift ever so slightly. There was an opening, but she had to do it NOW!

"Hold that thought." Lex muttered, just as his hand made a grab for her.

Against the burn of her over-strained abdominal muscles, Lex grimaced as she twisted her torso, swinging out and hooking her leg around Ragtok's. Around the leg he had shifted all his weight to. Swiping it from under him in a single move, Lex dodged his searching claws and hurled herself back. A loud 'THUD' sounded as he hit the floor hard, Lex just barely missing getting caught under his colossal weight.

Muscles trembling, Lex remained in her crouch for a while longer, trying to catch her breath before Ragtok came back to his senses.

-o-o-o-

With a perceptible growl, Scar finally shoved his way to the front of the ring of warriors. A disgruntled Yautja tried to pull him back, but Scar simply elbowed him in the face. He may have heard the crack of something breaking.

But that thought was put to the back of his mind as he took in the scene before him.

Lex was alive!

She was collecting herself not two or three paces away from the stunned Ragtok on the floor. Scar growled, about to step into the battle himself and beat Ragtok to a bloody pulp.

But that's when Lex suddenly turned her gaze on him.

Scar froze.

At first, Lex looked confused. But then understanding dawned in her eyes and- was that a smirk at the edge of her lip? Scar instantly disregarded it as he tried to take in what she was trying to say.

She was shaking her head, her lips mouthing the word 'No'.

Scar's mandibles clenched. He couldn't just LET her get killed. Or worse, defeated.

But Lex's expression turned serious, her lips forming the words, 'This is my fight'.

Scar growled, his fists clenching and unclenching.

Lex wondered if maybe he was going to step in and fight anyway. He looked so angry. She could even read a small mix of worry in his gaze.

But he knew she was right and Lex almost gave an audible sigh of relief when he stepped back ever so slightly. 'Don't worry Scar,' Lex thought to herself with determination, 'I will make you proud.'

Suddenly Scar's expression turned to one of alarm. Lex heard the scraping of armor behind her a moment too late, her eyes widening.

She should've been paying attention.

Lex whipped her head around the exact moment Ragtok's fist came flying at her face. Lex cried out in pain even as she flew back, skidding into the crowd. Her jaw felt loose. Her tongue tasted the copper tang of blood.

The Ooman lay slightly stunned among the edges of the crowd, clawed feet and boots all around her. Knowing they wouldn't pass up the chance of a free hit, Lex was quick to get to her feet, getting back into the ring with a few helpful shoves.

Ragtok was waiting.

Without enough room to maneuver, the crowd at her back and sides, Ragtok to her front, Lex knew the second blow would hit even as she dodged the first punch.

He had her by the neck, drawing her face close to his, "Not laughing now, are you Ooman?"

He was gracious enough to allow her to dangle at the end of his fist and choke awhile before actually tossing her over his shoulder.

WHAM! She was down on the ground.

Breathing was suddenly very difficult for Lex as she felt like her ribcage had been slammed against a speeding truck. Painfully, she rolled herself onto her back, her arms flopping down at either side of her as she lay there, gasping for oxygen.

Scar was holding himself back with the barest thread of control. He was toying with her! Ragtok was toying with her!

'Get up,' Scar willed the Ooman with his thoughts, 'Get UP!'

All around him, the crowd was roaring. Demanding that Ragtok take her life blood. They had thought this Ooman was proving herself to be a warrior. But right now, she was just proving that she was as weak as all the Oomans they'd met before her. How could someone like this be allowed into their Clan?

"Kill HER! Kill the Ooman!"

"Rip out her guts!"

"Teach her a lesson, Ragtok!"

Ragtok practically beamed, reveling in the cries for blood and his part in it. His eyes were roaming the crowd, taking all the time in the world, before he suddenly caught sight of a familiar face.

'Is that... Scar?' Ragtok thought to himself in surprise.

Scar noticed the gaze and growled, his muscles tensing for battle even as his mind willed himself to stay put. This was Lex's battle. Lex's challenge. He had to stay out of it until the end.

Ragtok grinned.

And for a moment, it was as if only those two existed. Ragtok taunting Scar while Scar trembled with rage.

"This will teach you..." Ragtok muttered darkly under his breath, "By my hands, you shall suffer for all the pain you've caused me..."

Seeing, more than hearing the dark promise from Ragtok's eyes, Scar's eyes widened.

The roars of the crowd all rushed back. The loud roars, and the small grunt of pain from the Ooman stunned on the ground.

Lex could hear the shouts dully in the background, her face twisted in agony. She rolled slightly, feeling a piercing jolt of pain throughout her body. Something sharp dug into her ribs and Lex opened her eyes slightly.

Was that... a dagger?

Footsteps approached, each one loudly made and reverberating through the ground. Lex almost thought it was the Queen, come back to life and her eyes widened.

Suddenly something was picking her up by the arm, bringing her face to face with her tormenter. Blinking, Lex found the face before her swimming clearly into view.

It was Ragtok. Not the Queen.

"Oh... it's just you..." Lex said aloud, her voice hitched in pain.

At that small statement, Ragtok's eyes burned. She would dare belittle him so? This small Ooman that he had all but defeated?

The big red Yautja's mandibles twitched, "You will wish you were never born."

One clawed hand around her wrist, the other gripping her collar, Ragtok grinned and twisted.

Something snapped and Lex screamed in pure and sudden agony. Searing heat tore through her nerve-endings before all feeling in her left arm was suddenly cut off. A coldness prickled at her neck as Lex tried to focus through the haze of red pain.

What had he DONE?!

Scar's roar, as pained as if he had suffered the injury itself, was lost to all but Ragtok. For the big red Yautja, this was only getting better and better. To think he had even believed for an instant that this puny Ooman could defeat him. It was laughable. What Scar saw in her, he'd never know. But it was just enough to know this was hurting his rival as much as it was the Ooman in his grasp.

Scar didn't know by what force he was able to hold himself back. He had to keep reminding himself that to go into the challenge would mean he was challenging Lex himself. And that wouldn't do EITHER of them any good.

But the bastard was enjoying this! Of this, Scar was certain and the knowledge did nothing to lessen his fury.

Through the haze of pain, Lex could hear Ragtok's voice. His putrid breath was brushing against her cheek as he declared for her ears alone, "I knew you were as weak as the race that spawned you. What made you think you even stood a chance among true warriors. Among US?"

Lex chuckled, even as it shot pain through her bruised ribs, "If... if you're the definition of a TRUE warrior... maybe it's YOU who doesn't belong here, you sadistic piece of shit!"

Lex spit to drive her point home.

Ragtok barked out in surprise as he shut his eyes against the liquid intrusion. Taking this as her chance, Lex raised her right arm, bringing the hidden dagger to light as she swiped at the Yautja holding her.

Sensing her attack, Ragtok threw her from him, making her cry out in pain as he tossed her by her left arm. Yet Ragtok roared in pain as well, letting Lex know that her attack did not leave the bastard unscathed.

Focusing on a somewhat graceful landing, Lex managed to get her two feet under her before she hit the ground. Staggering back at the force of impact, Lex glanced at the big Yautja in front of her before hastily checking her own injuries.

Her left arm dangled uselessly at her side, the loosened shoulder bone grating against the socket, shooting daggers of pain up her spine.

So he had broken or dislocated her left arm then...

Gritting her teeth, Lex looked back up to see what damage she had done to him.

"You... bitch!" Ragtok snarled, blood dripping from his mandibles.

Well, he didn't have as much mandibles as he'd begun with. One of the lower ones was dangling by a bare thread, neon green blood dripping down his maw.

Around them came exclamations of surprise. The Ooman had wounded the big warrior yet again? Maybe she wasn't as unworthy as they had thought.

Noticing the whispers and statements around them, Ragtok looked like he was about to explode. This was not how it was supposed to turn out. His image couldn't be belittled by a mere female Ooman!

Roaring his anger, Ragtok charged. He was done playing around. This Ooman creature MUST die!

Both Scar and Lex could see the finality in his eyes.

If Lex didn't finish this quick, she wouldn't live to kick ass another day.

Left arm hanging uselessly, Lex crouched, waiting for him to build up speed and get closer. Going against her instincts that practically screamed at her to move, Lex waited for the last moment. Lunging backwards, she planted her right hand on the ground and sprang back, giving the illusion that she was running away.

Growling, Ragtok merely came on faster, his eyes blind to all but the intent to murder her before Scar and all the warriors around them.

He was right where she wanted him.

Skidding backwards in a crouch, Lex absorbed her own momentum for a split second before lunging forward. Taken by surprise at her sudden frontal assault, Ragtok tried to slow down or at least dodge. But he was going to fast.

And she was too close.

Using his momentum against him, Lex rammed her outstretched foot against his face. Her heel smashed against it with a loud crunch and Lex knew the mandible she had loosened earlier had now snapped off.

"I-" Lex was still in the air, her momentum and his colliding.

"-am not-" Her other knee drove under his jaw, making his head audibly snap backwards from their momentum's collective force and Lex's surge of strength.

Her other leg came swinging back, whipping Ragtok's abused head to the side.

Using his chest as a spring, Lex vaulted over Ragtok, her good arm wrapping around his neck as she did so, bringing her mouth close to his ear.

"-WEAK." Lex growled out the last part.

Lex bent forward and hurled him with all her strength, all her exertion escaping from her in a heated battle cry.

By the time her foot touched the ground, Ragtok's enormous bulk had slammed into the ground three hard times before he skidded to a stop three dozen yards away.

Lex's breath was labored, sweat she hadn't noticed before soaking her through. Her eyes were pinpointed on the large body that lay on the ground, wondering if he was still capable of fighting her. Had it been enough?

Had she managed to defeat him?

It was only after a large cry from the hundreds of warriors erupted around her did Lex notice everything had been bathed in silence a moment before.

The Ooman stood there, numb, as she looked all around her.

Many Yautja were gaping, disbelief clearly etched on their features. But many, many more were roaring and crying out. Was it in rage? No...

They were... cheering.

The Ooman had done it. She had actually defeated the strongest Yautja that had challenged her. A Yautja with over a couple hundred kills to his name.

Then suddenly Scar was there, his arms were slack at his sides, his expression unreadable. Lex looked up, fearing the worst. Had she done something wrong?

But no, there was a certain light in his eyes. Warmth. Acceptance.

Pride...

'How could I have been foolish enough to believe Ragtok's words?' Lex wondered incredulously as she stared up into those amber eyes.

"You did it..." Scar trilled, his mandibles tilting into a lopsided grin.

Lex smiled. But she could sense him holding back. Was he just going to pat her on the shoulder?

Ignoring her aches and pains for a while, Lex threw herself at Scar, whose arms went around her reflexively.

'What is she-' Scar blinked in confusion, finding an Ooman suddenly attached to his front, her good arm reaching around his torso.

Lex smiled as he tensed, still unsure of her sudden action. After a moment, Scar relaxed, trilling in amusement as his arms wrapped more securely around her, returning her embrace.

A few of the younger warriors cheered rambunctiously at their public display of affection, others continuing shouting just from the aftermath of the battle.

Lex's mouth grinned against his chest before the Ooman gasped in sudden pain, "Okay, okay. You can let go now."

Hastily complying, Scar cast his gaze over her wounds with more than a tint of worry in his tone, "Are you all right?"

"I'll know in a moment..." Lex said, taking a step away from Scar as she turned her attention back on Ragtok a couple dozen yards away, "Just let me... kill him first..."

Lex staggered forward, surprised to find her hand still clutched around the dagger.

But on her third or fourth step, intense agony from all her bruises and wounds rolled over her like an unstoppable tide. Gritting her teeth, Lex found the dagger slipping from her grasp as darkness descended on her vision. Her body was weary. Accumulation from escaping the pyramid, the trip over here, and now this fight were finally taking their toll.

She tripped over her own feet and fell forward, expecting the feel her face hitting the floor any second.

But Scar was there, catching her gently before lowering her slowly to the ground, "Rest. You deserve it."

"But..."

"I'll be here when you wake up." Scar promised, arms wrapping around her more securely as he stood back up.

With a reluctant sigh, Lex closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.

Watching her expression slip from intense pain to slightly less pain, Scar grumbled under his breath as he realized he needed to head to a Healer. But he'd be damned before he'd let Healer Umtok lay a finger on her.

"Where you taking her?" Rave questioned, suddenly beside him.

"To anyone but Umtok." Scar growled.

Jet popped up from behind Rave, her black mandibles flashing into a grin, "Lucky you. I just happen to know where Healer Amrah is. Follow me."

A new appreciation for the little female bloomed in Scar before he nodded grimly, "Lead the way."

Rave bent over slightly to scoop something. His expression brightened as he caught back up to the two Yautja, the object firmly ensnared in his large fist.

"What did you find?" Scar asked absentmindedly, keeping one eye on Jet and the other on Lex as they walked.

"Oh, just a souvenir I'm sure our little Ooman will like when she wakes." Rave grinned.

Scar's brow perked in curiosity, but didn't question the bigger Yautja as they both continued to follow Jet, who somehow managed to part the crowd with her insistent growls of "Move it!", "Get your ass outta my way!" or "Your head won't even be fit for a trophy once I'm through with it!"

Rave sent Scar a sidelong glance, mandibles grinning as he clicked, "Did I ever mention that I like her?"

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-grumbles- Aw man, Lex didn't even get to kill him.