The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone


In the Jaws of Death

Authors Note: This story I have written may not be exact with the customs and culture founded by the Predator movies, comics or stories but I have tired to stay in the area of their beliefs and ways. I have brought in elements from each of the categories and have combined them into one. I do not own Predator. Updates will be regular and changes will be made if any suggestions are made for me. Pronunciations at bottom. Some of the mentioned items in the Yautja world are made up by me. Good Reading.

E.M.

The light hit Dhm’Ni with a punch as he smashed his way through the doors. He followed the trail of red and green as Nala said too and it even carried on outside of the hospital. When his eyes adjusted to the difference in light, the room itself only had a small window to allow light in, he saw the gruesome scene. There, a few feet away, was the dead warrior, its head cut horizontally in half. He had to bark in surprised. He knew somehow she killed it but he never thought like this. Only a shuriken could do this. Dhm’Ni looked around for his weapon and found it fallen on the ground, he could also see the hole in the building made from the remaining Hard Meat blood that had eroded the wall. He kindly lowered Nala to the ground, he would have simply dropped her but that could wake her so he didn’t take the chance. He picked up the shuriken with care, even though it has been some time sense it killed the Hard Meat the acid would still burn if it came into contact with skin. He took out a small piece of cloth and whipped the remaining liquid off. He closed the weapon and placed it back onto its holster. He quickly made his way back to the laying Nala, bent down to one knee and was about to pick her up when he looked to her arms. He was stunned at the sight of grisly scars roaming her exposed skin. He took up one of her arms to get a better look. They were light, almost invisible. Which could explain him missing them in the building, but…they were all over her arm, from shoulder to finger tips. They were thick and long but in small numbers. They did not completely cover the entire arm, only showing up in a few areas. He didn’t really have the time to count, but he wanted to know if they were in fact everywhere or were just evident on her extremities. Dhm’Ni drifted his hand towards the bottom of her shirt and began to lift it up. He felt a little odd looking at her like this but he wanted, no…needed to know. He didn’t know why but he needed too. He had the urge to see just what this little Ooman had as trophy scars. And he wasn’t disappointed. There were more, actually just three. One began from below her pant and rose to end just beside her bellybutton. And the other two were parallel cutting diagonally across her abdomen. He just stared is astonishment. How could one Ooman, a female for that matter, gain such scars? He wouldn’t look any harder, it would be dishonorable to look any closer. And he didn’t really like being so close, carrying her was one thing, but actually looking and studying her was too much. He smoothly picked her up again, holding her by the crook of her legs and by her torso. He couldn’t even imagine how this could look to a fellow hunter, no actually he could…

“Why are you holding an Ooman?” One might say.

“I really don’t know” Could be the only thing for Dhm’ni to utter.

“Planning to take its skull?” They would ask.

“No.” Dhm’Ni would answer.

“Skin it?”

“No,”

“Eat it?”

“No.”

“Then what?” And all he would be able to say is…

“I really don’t know.”

He couldn’t worry about looks right now. He needed to get to the DropShip but hopefully Sya first.

~

Sya was close. He could see Dhm’Ni, uncloaked, with the female in his hands. He had been running the moment he and Lord Khupiee ended their conversation and had now gained enough ground to see him. But when he looked to the female being carried, rage and anger began to pump in his veins replacing his blood. He told Dhm’Ni not to hunt her, not to take her as a trophy, NOT to harm her but it seemed Dhm’Ni disobeyed him and caused damage to her. Sya did wonder as to why he was carrying her. Why not take her skull when he killed her? Sya needed to know now but when he attempted to COM-link Dhm’Ni, all that would come up was ‘unable to connect’. That usually meant that the hunter was dead or that somehow their mask was destroyed or broken beyond care and the ability to COM-link was impossible. Sya could undeniably see Dhm’Ni, so death was out, and he could see that his mask was indeed intact, but why would it kept saying ‘unable to connect’? Syas’ temper was beginning to get the best of him. Perhaps Dhm’Ni was blocking incoming COM-links, if someone would try to contact him while he hunted the female he would not be interrupted. He was too far to call out to Dhm’Ni, even Syas’ greatest roar could not travel these pathways. The only person that would have knowledge of what has happened would be Ykas’e. The watchers must have seen or at least know the reason to why Dhm’Ni cannot be connected.

“Sya, I have many questions for you!” Ykas’e began. He wished to know about the female, the entire ship did. The short video made by Dhm’Nis’ watcher ‘just happened’ to be sent to all of the ships occupants. If they had not watched it on their personal COM-link in their room then they probably watched it in the galley or society rooms. Ykas’e didn’t care much about it getting out but he was a little concerned about the income of requests to exit the ship and hunt her. All were denied of course, by Lord Khupiee instructions. “Do tell me of this female Ooman.”

“What? So surprised an Ooman can do such a thing? Or is it that she is female that gets you questioning?” Sya teases.

“Both.” He clicks bluntly.

“Another time Ykas’e, I have a burning question to ask you myself. I am unable to COM-link Dhm’Ni, do you know why?”

“One moment.” Ykas’e suspended the COM as he went to ask to watcher. All Sya could do as he waited was keep running. Only a few moments more and he would be right on Dhm’Nis’ tail. But as he got closer Sya switched his sight to look at the damage Dhm’Ni caused to the female and was pleasantly relieved when he saw she was still alive, unmoving, but alive.

“Sya?” Ykas’e came back on the COM.

“Yes, do you know or not Ykas’e?” Sya forcibility asks.

“The watcher says that his video feed was terminated a few moments ago. The last thing it recorded was the female kicking Dhm’Nis’ mask, and then it was out. When he tried to COM him it also said it could not make contact. He is alive however, the sensors show that. But they also show him traveling with the Ooman. Before he was following, now they trek together. I am getting concerned Sya.”

“Don’t be Ykas’e. I have Dhm’Ni in my sight. I shall ask him myself.” Sya ends the COM-link. Just ahead of him was Dhm’Ni holding the Ooman in his hands, running with great speed. Even Sya would not be able to keep up with Dhm’Ni if he went full speed. In training he was always the first to finish a race or tournament. The un-bloods and sometimes the young bloods would test themselves against each other in things other then combat. Only the stupid would think that a fight is won by only strength. So Sya had to catch him now or he would not be able too at all.

“DHM’NI!” Sya growls loud.

Imminently Dhm’Ni stopped in his tracks and turned to his name. He could tell that it was Sya but with his mask conked out he could not really see him, only the outline of his cloak as he made his way closer. They rested at the corners of some of the buildings. They all seemed to be the same, all looking like the other, copy upon copy. But Dhm’ni knew his way back to the DropShip, he had followed Nala this way as she ran to the hospital and it was really close.

“Sya! Thank the Gods! Lend a hand with her, she is heavier then she seems.” Dhm’Ni chirps. Nala was larger then the other women, even in her unit she was bigger then them, you could actually say superior. She was almost 220 lbs but didn’t really look it. In her later years she would enter underground boxing matches, boxing was outlawed about 20 years ago after the war, and she was almost killed because some accused her of adding weight, like bronze shoes or something, to make her heavier but truth was the enhancements added the weight. It was in her bones and muscles. They look small but they are a large load to carry. But Dhm’Ni wasn’t having trouble carrying her, the weight was just cramping his arm muscles. And it was getting bothersome.

“Cannot carry a small Ooman Dhm’Ni? Really!”

“This is not the time to mock me Sya, we have a big problem!” Sya listened intently as Dhm’Ni told him everything. About their first fight and the Hard Meat to her healing him, and then about the impending destruction of the island. “I did not know what to do Sya. I cannot leave her here to die. I cannot abandon her.” Dhm’Ni said almost pleadingly.

“I understand Dhm’Ni, she saved your life. I must tell Ykas’e. But I am warning you not to say a thing about her, not right now. When your father contacts me, which he will and he will assume that I made contact with the Ooman and will get very angry, I will tell him of her. If we tell Ykas’e who knows what would happen.” Dhm’Ni nods to him, he would stay silent.

“Sya, have you made contact with Dhm’Ni?” Ykas’e came over the COM.

“That I did. I need you to listen and listen carefully Ykas’e!” Sya roars. Now Ykas’e knew something was wrong. Sya hardly ever raised his voice to him. “I need you to CONSTANTLY be monitoring all incoming objects, I have received information that the Oomans are planning on destroying the island. I do not know when or how but I need to you keep a hard eye on this. Understand?”

“Yes Sir. I will inform the others to this as well?” He asks.

“Of course. They need to now this over anything and if any of them get angry with you for contacting them, tell them to bring it up with me!” Sya says reassuring Ykas’e he would not get into trouble with the message.

“I shall. Make your way to the DropShip, Lord Khupiee and the others have already arrived. But the Ooman is still with you Sya, why?” Ykas’e asks with disapproval.

“That is nothing to be fret about. Get to your task.” Sya says terminating the COM-link. It was true that the Ooman was nothing to worry about, at least not yet. He looks down to the small bundle of flesh and bone in Dhm’Nis’ arms. She looks so harmless, limp and flaccid. You couldn’t even tell this, an Ooman, could do such things as kill a Hard Meat with its hands. What are they to do with her? Dhm’Ni said she has no way of getting off the island, but maybe, just maybe Lord Khupiee would allow her to be taken to a neighboring island. Sya could only hope.

“What of the Ooman?” Dhm’Ni asks. He would not leave her, he would not be on the same level as that Ooman male. He would not abandon her.

“We cannot and will not desert her Dhm’Ni. Your father will have words, but you must ask him to take her to safety. If anything, you can do that for what she had done for you.” Sya began to chuckle at the though of her stitching him up. He began to laugh even louder as he remembered how Dhm’Nis’ hair was cut sharply at his shoulder.

“Are you seriously laughing at me Sya? At a time like this?”

“I apologize, it’s just the look of your locks. It’s…it’s just amusing!” Dhm’Ni growled at Sya. He did not want to get badgered right now. “Ok, to the DropShip then?” Sya clicks sarcastically. Dhm’Ni didn’t give him any response other then a grunt as he turned down the road to the training area where the DropShip waits.

~

Lord Khupiee and Pakka arrived at the DropShip just as the Queen, chained and bound, was being hauled into the cargo hold. But something was off about this Queen. She was at least double the size of a normal Queen, she stood very tall and her crown was like nothing he had ever seen. The form and design of the Queens skin made her ancestry very clear to Lord Khupiee, but not to the others. The intricate forms and waves of the skin seemed to mold perfectly in a terrifying ballet of black. Even the strange way it shined in the sun made her different from all other Queens.

“You decided to take her I see?” Lord Khupiee said to Miy’Hota, his words held disapproval of his decision. All Miy’Hota could go was nod in accord. “You do not see it do you?” Miy’Hota looks to the Queen, looking over her just as the door to the cargo hold began to close, to see if something was off, but there was nothing. He looks back to Lord Khupiee, tilting his head in question. “Perhaps you are too young to remember.” By now all the others who attended the hunt had gathered around Lord Khupiee, while the young bloods pulled and tugged with all there strength to get the Queen to stay inside. “She is of bad ancestry. Her line is well known to our clan, they are volatile, debilitated and even decrepit. Some Queens would even go Hulij-bpe, absolutely insane and kill her own. Even kill hosts that still have growing Hard Meats. She is unstable. I do not hold you responsible for the mistake, only Dh’Kn, Sya and myself would have to been able to see her as she really is. We must destroy her as the earliest moment.” They others were stunned, usually a Queen with such temperament would be considered of high value, able to produce honorable kin for unbloods but she was not sound. Before Lord Khupiee could continue, he was again interrupted by Ykas’e and he was beginning to get annoyed.

“This is the second time you have disrupted this hunt Ykas’e. The first time was acceptable but I swear if this is about that female or any Ooman for that matter I will wear your skin as my hanging cloth!” He roars at an unsuspecting Ykas’e. He was used to Lord Khupiee yelling at him, but he would usually stop what ever he was doing that annoyed him. Today he did not have the convenience.

“I sincerely hope that you will be comfortable in my skin because I have news of an Ooman plan intending on destroying this island.” Ykas’e was glad from the silence that came after the news. It was silence that meant Lord Khupiee was thinking of a plan. “Sya informed me of the Oomans intentions and told the sensors to keep an eye on all incoming objects. They have yet to see anything but that does not mean there is nothing.”

“Sya told you this?” Lord Khupiee barks. He had specifically told Sya to stay away from that female. To not make contact but it seems he didn’t heed that warning.

“Yes Sir. He was making his way to Dhm’Ni who is…uhh…” He didn’t know how to say it. He can’t just go right out and say ‘your son is traveling with an Ooman’. He couldn’t possibly.

“Who is what Ykas’e?”

“…who is in the company of the Ooman.” He finally lets out.

“As he was before?” Lord Khupiee thought that Dhm’Ni was still following the Ooman, he had not talked with him sense the hunt began. He never worried of him, Sya was with him for most of the time, and he was a great warrior and could take care of himself as all other hunters could.

“No Sir. Before he was following, the sensors showed that he was a little behind the female but now he is actually with the Ooman.”

“WITH?” Lord Khupiee barks. “Have you contacted him to question him?”

“The watcher saw the Ooman bust Dhm’Nis’ mask a little while ago. From that point on we have been unable to connect with him. However, Sya said he was near and would speak to him. That is when Sya came back to me with the information.” It was Dhm’Ni. Lord Khupiee had assumed it was Sya but it was his own son. How could he be so stupid? Lord Khupiee ends the COM with Ykas’e and was going to connect with Sya when the Queen started to rustle in the hold. Her screams echoing through the entire ship.

“Keep her down! We will jettison her into the cold of space when we leave the place. And we must be leaving soon. The Oomans have decided that they have another way of cleaning up this mess. Either way there are little more then three Kainde Amedha left, we will finish the hunt before we leave. For now I have someone to scold.” He ends as he contacts Sya.

Meanwhile, Dhm’Nis’ arms were beginning to burn just as they entered the training grounds. Sya kept looking back on the trailing form of Dhm’Ni holding the female and laughing every time. He stopped a little a head of Dhm’Ni to let him catch up. He thought it was the funniest thing he has seen in all his seasons. An eight foot giant holding onto a tiny being, it was kind of befitting. Big and small together. He was about to laugh again as Dhm’Ni got in arms reach when Lord Khupiee COM-linked him.

“SYA!” He roars. “I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THE OOMAN, DID I NOT? AND DID I NOT TELL YOU TO COME BACK TO THE DROPSHIP? WHAT IN THE GREAT WOMB OF PAYA IS GOING ON?” He was fuming with anger. Sya had to try his hardest not to laugh at him.

“It was not my doing Khupiee. It was your son. He had accidentally and I stress accidentally, made contact with the Ooman and a battle, with the Ooman and a Hard Meat, ensued.”

“A battle?”

“Do not worry, he came out fine. Only a small cut from a Hard Meat, which was then healed by the Ooman.” Sya paused, waiting for Lord Khupiee response. But there was only silence. Dhm’Ni could only watch as Sya stood there clam and peaceful while he knew that he was most likely talking to his furious father. Dhm’Ni was so intent on watching Sya that he never saw Nala flutter her eyes. She didn’t know what the hell was going on. Her eyes couldn’t follow anything, it was like they were glassed over, making her blind to the world. But as they slowly cleared she looked up and saw the bottom of Dhm’Nis’ head. She scanned over her current position and found him to be holding her up and then the memory came flooding in. He hit me! That little prick hit me! She looked back up to him, her eyes half lidded in hate. She saw that his mask lipped around his chin and on his temples it ended just as his tresses began. He looked positively menacing. His gray black mask, black eye pieces and his black hair made him look unbelievably threatening. Even to Nala his look was scary. But her hate had clouded her judgment.

“Are you actually requesting to transfer the Ooman to a safe area?” Lord Khupiee questioned in his and Syas continuing conversation.

“Not I. Your son. She saved his life Khupiee and neither he nor I will leave her. She was abandoned by her own, leaving her hear to die.” Sya regretted wasting time with the male he killed, he doubted that the flying machine he used was still operable. “All he wishes is to drop her onto a neighboring island. Or is that too big of a request?” He teases.

“Where are you now?” Lord Khupiee asks a moment later. Now Sya knew he gave in.


“We have just entered the area where the DropShip sits. We should be there in moments.”


“Very well, be warned that there are at least three Kainde Amedha left. And Sya, I will hear nothing more of this after she is off.” Lord Khupiee growls and ends to COM.


“What did he say Sya?” Dhm’Ni finally speaks up. He had been anxious to hear of his fathers’ decision. He didn’t know what he would do if his father said no. He didn’t even know what he would do if his father said yes.


“He will transport her to a safe island. But you are to never speak of this after she is safe.” Dhm’Ni thrilled at knowing she was going to be safe. He didn’t know why he cared, but he thought it was a way of repaying her for saving his life.


“YOU LITTLE SHIT!” Nala finally yells out. Dhm’Ni immediately dropped his head down to see the scolding eyes of the female his was carrying. He was actually alarmed at seeing her, his chest tightened and his whole body stiffened. He didn’t get a moment to think before Nala rolled out of his hands onto the ground. “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?” She asks. Her head was pulsating in pain from the blow. She was backing up while still yelling at him, cursing every bad word she knew. Throwing out insult after insult, her tongue wouldn’t stop. That is until she backed into Sya. She instantly stopped talking as her body hit him. A chill ran up her spine at the thought that it was another one of Dhm’Ni. Slowly she brings a hand back and presses it against what ever it was she was leaning on and felt that it was breathing. She was touching Syas’ stomach, felling it as it rose and fell with each breathe.

“She seems pleasant.” Sya clicks mockingly. He knew that Dhm’Ni understood her words and was seething. Hearing more clicking sounds Nala quickly jumped forwards towards Dhm’Ni and turned right around. She was right, there was another one. But he was different. His armor was more open and colored differently, kind of a bronzy gray. It was more intricate and it seemed to have design, probably meant to be showy. But to her he just looked strange. She could see that he was relatively bare compared to Dhm’Ni, while he had his arsenal out for all to see, Dhm’Ni had his tucked away, concealed for only him to know where they are. She also noticed that he was taller, larger and broader than Dhm’Ni. His skin was a light shade of brown that molted into a darker shade in strange spots, but all over him were stripes of a really dark brown. She could see every muscle in his arms and legs, they seemed to be everywhere. It was as if he was swimming in strength that showed all over his body. His mask really made Nala freak, it had odd angles here and there, not really giving him a true shape and yet showing off his head.


“Hello.” She squeaks. She did know what to expect from him. She had continued in backing up towards Dhm’Ni, she was almost right up against him when Sya spoke.


“Greetings.” He said in her tongue. Nala was stunned, she had even flinched at the hard and gruff voice coming from him, making her hit Dhm’Ni with her back. Dhm’Ni did not like her being so close so he took a small step back from her.


“You…you can talk?” She forced her voice to finally come out, she tried to hide her panic but it came out no mater how hard she tried.


“Yes I can. Do not be afraid.” Sya took up his hands in a calming way. “I have studied for a long time in order to speak your tongue. He is too young to know how to speak it like I.” Sya motions to Dhm’Ni.


“Should have known he was young, his crack to knock me out wasn’t well planned.” She jested.


“THAT IS IT!” Dhm’Ni growled. Nala wasn’t fazed by his sudden anger, she wanted him angry. She wanted to kick his ass for what he did. “You tell her to watch her mouth! Or I will cut it off so she can really watch it!”


“Perhaps you should watch yours Dhm’Ni.” Sya clicks. “I do not think she is one to take kindly to the person who thumped her. Do you?” Nala was getting nervous with the clicking and chirping going on between them. She didn’t have a clue as to what they were talking about but guess that it had something to do with her.


“Can I get involved in this or no?” She speaks.


“I am sorry…” Sya paused, he didn’t know her name.


“Nala.” She answered quickly.


“Nala, well I am Sya and this is”


“Dhm’Ni, yeah we met.” She says harshly. She was beginning to feel like a miniature person as she stood between Sya and Dhm’Ni, two towering peaks of muscle.


“I see that you have. And he wishes me to tell you ‘to watch you mouth’, in his words, not mine.” He adds quickly. Dhm’Ni stiffed as he heard Sya.


“Don’t say it like that!” But he didn’t have time to really say much more when Nala elbowed him in his side. It was such a hard blow that Dhm’Ni let out a harsh ‘humph’ and even bent over a little. Nala turned to him with that same scowl.


“WATCH MY MOUTH? ARE YOU FUCKING TELLING ME TO WATCH MY MOUTH? THIS COMING FROM THE GUY WHO PUNCHED ME OUT! HA! YOU CAN’T JUST HIT ME LIKE THAT AND TELL ME TO SHUT UP AND EXPECT ME TO FOLLOW SUIT! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDING ME!” She was absolutely furious with Dhm’Ni. How could he be so wicked towards her, especially for what she had done for him. She wasn’t going to let him do that. But now Dhm’Ni was angry, he was one Hard Meat tooth away from bashing in her skull. He stepped right up to her and even leaned down and roared right above her. Suddenly Nala jumped up and pushed his shoulders, making him get out of her face. She had no idea of what she just initiated. Dhm’Ni however was ecstatic at the proposal. He moved back into Nala and bent his face inches in front of hers.


“A FIGHT IT IS!” He roared again. He expected Nala to recoil from the roar, as she had done before but she didn’t move. Her face changed to an emotionless canvas, leaving all recognizable trace of anger behind her. In a movement to fast for Dhm’Ni to see, Nala brought up her right hand and slapped him. Not hard, not enough to hurt or make his head move but enough for him to know that she slapped him. A sissy slap is the best thing to describe is. Dhm’Ni just remained there. Mask inches away from her face, just still. He could hear Sya laughing. He was bent over holding his stomach, almost rolling on the floor from hit he just witnessed. Nala herself had to hold in her laugh. She just continued to stare into those black eyes.


“Never. Roar. At me. Again. Got it?” She said calmly. Dhm’ni stood tall.


“Please let me kill her. I will beg if I need to Sya, I cannot let her do that to me. I do not care what she has done to the Hard Meat or to me. She deserves to die for her disrespect!“ Dhm’Ni clicked, sounding almost tranquil. “She challenged me anyways Sya, I should kill her right now, right where she stands.”


“Perhaps she does not know what she did. And it was you who made her so angry.” Sya chirps.


“It does not matter who started it, it’s started that all that matters.” Dhm’Ni growls.


“Nala,” Sya began to talk in Ooman. “I do not think you know of what you have just done. Pushing of the shoulder is a challenge. Dhm’ni mistakenly though you were challenging him to a fight.” They all went silent. Nala was thinking about what a waste this challenge would be, while the both Sya and Dhm’Ni were wondering about her upcoming reaction. Little did they know Nala was planning her attack.


“I see no reason to squander such a challenge.” Suddenly Nala lunged at Dhm’Ni, punching him in the jaw. Sya was shocked by the move, perhaps he shouldn’t have told her what her actions meant.


“What are you doing?” Sya asked but got nothing back as the two scuffled on the ground. Funny thing was that Nala was winning. She was punching him right at his choler bone and Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to do. He grabbed both her hands as they came back down and popped his hips making Nala flip head over heal onto the ground ahead of Dhm’Ni. While still holding her hands Dhm’Ni turned around and sat up onto his knees, he turned her body around to face him then pulled her under his body, trapping her under his weight. Before she could stop him Dhm’Ni brought down his fist onto her nose, the sound that came from her face was unrecognizable. The splitting of her nose was one of the most painful things in her life, her eyes began to water and her mouth hung open in a silent scream. When Dhm’Ni saw the blood on his fist as he took it back up, he stopped. He had won. Then the worst feeling came over Nala. She had been trying to hide it sense she was hit by the tail but now it was too much. She began to cough up blood from her punctured lung. The blood from her nose didn’t help either as the red liquid was propelled in Dhm’Nis’ face, splattering it all over his mask. She turned her body until she was on her side to continue coughing while Dhm’Ni groaned in disgust. He sat up while still on his knee hovering over Nala and took off his mask. Sya just chuckled. He hadn’t laughed this mush in seasons! While he was in his laughing attack his eyes caught the sight of something unnerving coming their way…


Dhm’Ni on the other hand wasn’t paying attention to Sya, he was looking at his blood soaked mask. He flared his mandibles in revulsion at the sight. He swiftly grabbed the same cloth he used before and began to wipe off all the red he could see. He didn’t even seem to care that Nala was almost convulsing while she was coughing in between his legs. Somehow she had started to breath normally and her coughing spell began to ware off. She took in deep breathes and at every one she felt pain. When Dhm’ni was finished he placed the cloth back and looked down to the Ooman under him before he placed his mask on the ground next to her. Her face from her nose down was covered in her own blood, some caused by him, some not.


“Nala?” Dhm’Ni spoke up. She turned back onto her bottom and tired to sit up. She had to use both hands to prop herself up so she wouldn’t fall back down. Instinctively Dhm’ni put one of his hands behind her, holding her up by her back. Nalas’ eyes were still shut from the pain from her nose and they did not want to open. “Pain?” He asked. Now Nala opened her eyes to him. She looked into his striking eyes and let out a relieved sigh at the sight that they were not fighting anymore. But as she looking at his face she saw that the same two marks on his mask were also marked on his head, sitting in the middle of his brow just above his eyes. She started to wipe off the blood from her mouth and below her nose with the choler of her shirt, careful not to hit it in any way that would cause pain. When she was done though, she didn’t set her hand back down. She reached slowly forward towards Dhm’Nis’ head. He tired to move back from her touch but because he was holding her, he just moved her along with him. With her index and middle finger, she touched the two marking and smoothed them down there full length. They were the same light green as the rest of him but they looked like scars, and they were actually soft to the touch.


“They are on your face to? Doesn’t add anything to your looks.” She says sarcastically. Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to think of her touching his mark. This would not be tolerated in usual circumstance but what could he do now? Just let her go and watch her fall? Nala took her hand back as she realized that she touched him with out asking. “Sorry. I didn’t ask if it was ok…” She looked down submissively. Dhm’Ni was about to say that it was ok but he was interrupted by Sya.


“KAINDE AMEDHA!” He roars. Together Nala and Dhm’Ni look to Sya to see that behind him was a Hard Meat warrior.


“YOU FUCK! You broke my nose, I couldn’t smell it!” Nala said to Dhm’ni as he stood up, bringing her with him. Sya was already in a fighting stance, ready and waiting for the Hard Meat. Nala cringed at the sound of scrapping metal when Sya pushed out his wrist blades to full length. The Hard Meat screeched and Sya growled menacingly as they collided. But when they fell to the floor it didn’t stay with him. It started to run on all floors at Dhm’Ni and Nala, its tail lashing in excitement. Dhm’Ni released Nala and took out his combat staff from its hiding spot at his right thigh and extended it in front of him. He too bent down and roared in anticipation. Nala however was scared out of her mind, she wasn’t thinking straight when she started to back away from Dhm’Ni. The Hard Meat didn’t want to fight with Dhm’Ni, it wanted Nala. It jumped over Dhm’Ni with no trouble and landed behind him. Dhm’Ni whipped around and saw that Nala was no longer right behind him. She had moved away and from the looks of things she was frozen in fear. She didn’t know what to do when it started for her, she could barely stand let alone fight this thing. She needed to do something, she needed to get close to Dhm’Ni or Sya. She shouldn’t have moved away.


Dhm’Ni activated his shoulder cannon but wouldn’t use it, he had already tried to hit a Hard Meat with a weapon and ended up hitting Nala, he would not do that again. He didn’t want to hurt her yet again. He had caused so much harm to her while she had healed him and saved his life. He hadn’t even thought of what would have happened if she didn’t warn him of the Oomans plans. The entire ship was indebted to her for her information. They may not like it when they hear it, well…if they hear it, but it’s true. And now Dhm’Ni was powerless as the Hard Meat got closer and closer to Nala.


But she would not just stand still and wait for this thing to get her. She had gone through enough today to die by a devils hand. The sight was terrifying to her, just ahead was a devil on all floors running at her. She could hear its every step as its hard hands hit the ground, thumping and pounding, it was driving her insane! But when it got close it lunged at her, jumping into the air. She used its airborne status against it as she dashed into action. But she fell towards the ground while it was in the air. She somersaulted when she meet the ground and rolled a few times. But as she rolled out, she couldn’t get back up. It was as if all her energy was taken from her, her breathing was gone and her eyes were clouding. When she looked up and saw that both Sya and Dhm’Ni were running towards her, but they were too late.


Dhm’Ni watched in horror as the Hard Meat jumped on Nala. She had turned her body and was on her back as it fell onto her. Nala screamed as its weight was on top of her. The only thing she could do was hold its shoulders in an attempt to keep its head away from her. The instant Dhm’Ni was close he thrashed his combat staff into the middle of the Hard Meats head. Instantaneously it fell dead adding its whole weight onto Nala. She screamed form the pain as it began to crush her. Soon though she fell silent as she watched a colossal drop of the acidic blood fall from where Dhm’Nis’ weapon had pierced it. Time froze as she watched it crawl its way closer to mouth of the devil. It traveled down its open jaws and collected at the tip of its teeth. It wasn’t a second later that it fell.