► Show Spoiler
[Solaris Ridge]
L'ulij-bpe Thwei — Mad Blood — skulked through the deep cave tunnels surrounding the desolate colony. Muted roars and screams echoed down the dark corridors, setting her on edge. She reached back and drew her plasma rifle, her lower mandibles flaring in agitation as she took a look around, scanning the darkness.
She stopped for a moment — spotting a trail of red blood further down, leading through a rocky entrance to the colony itself. She stepped outside under the cold night sky, following the trail.
—————
[Scout Vessel, above Solaris Ridge]
Elder Zazin Kentra stood patiently in the central chamber of the vessel. A young unblooded finished his preparations, exiting the armory equipped with heavy clan armor and glaive. He stood before the elder with his head lowered in respect. Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja. Elder Zazin looked upon the young blood, considering his charge carefully. He contemplated for a moment, before speaking.
"If you do this, you will be among the blooded of our clan. But — it is no small feat. Mad Blood is extremely dangerous. Take care when confronting her." Elder Zazin fixed Gahn'tha-cte with a firm stare, placing a hand on the young blood's shoulder. "Do not fail, young one. But if you do, go to the great Hunt as an honorable warrior. Do not disgrace your elders."
Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja offered a curt nod, bowing more deeply in acknowledgement. "I will ensure that Cetanu judges them accordingly," he rumbled. He gave one last check to his equipment, proceeding to the airlock where the colony below awaited.
Elder Zazin regarded Gahn'the-cte as he left, inclining his head. He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering.. "Oh great and wise Paya, Lord of the Hunt, protect the young one. Give him strength, mind, and spirit."
—————
Mad Blood had been lurking through the colony for some time, slipping into the shadows as the occasional serpent ran past, aware but strangely uncaring of her presence. It seemed their Queen had apparently dismissed her, more concerned with the soft meat invading their Hive. She quickly stopped bothering to hide, practically daring them to stop her, but their Queen was clearly the higher priority.
In any case, she wasn't interested in the serpents; she felt disgust well up inside her as she watched their conflict with the soft meat. No — she had bigger prey, and she knew they would be upon her soon. She was bad blood, after all.
As she idly passed through the abandoned or contested facilities, she became lost in her thoughts, considering her next move..
L'ulij-bpe Thwei — Mad Blood — skulked through the deep cave tunnels surrounding the desolate colony. Muted roars and screams echoed down the dark corridors, setting her on edge. She reached back and drew her plasma rifle, her lower mandibles flaring in agitation as she took a look around, scanning the darkness.
She stopped for a moment — spotting a trail of red blood further down, leading through a rocky entrance to the colony itself. She stepped outside under the cold night sky, following the trail.
—————
[Scout Vessel, above Solaris Ridge]
Elder Zazin Kentra stood patiently in the central chamber of the vessel. A young unblooded finished his preparations, exiting the armory equipped with heavy clan armor and glaive. He stood before the elder with his head lowered in respect. Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja. Elder Zazin looked upon the young blood, considering his charge carefully. He contemplated for a moment, before speaking.
"If you do this, you will be among the blooded of our clan. But — it is no small feat. Mad Blood is extremely dangerous. Take care when confronting her." Elder Zazin fixed Gahn'tha-cte with a firm stare, placing a hand on the young blood's shoulder. "Do not fail, young one. But if you do, go to the great Hunt as an honorable warrior. Do not disgrace your elders."
Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja offered a curt nod, bowing more deeply in acknowledgement. "I will ensure that Cetanu judges them accordingly," he rumbled. He gave one last check to his equipment, proceeding to the airlock where the colony below awaited.
Elder Zazin regarded Gahn'the-cte as he left, inclining his head. He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering.. "Oh great and wise Paya, Lord of the Hunt, protect the young one. Give him strength, mind, and spirit."
—————
Mad Blood had been lurking through the colony for some time, slipping into the shadows as the occasional serpent ran past, aware but strangely uncaring of her presence. It seemed their Queen had apparently dismissed her, more concerned with the soft meat invading their Hive. She quickly stopped bothering to hide, practically daring them to stop her, but their Queen was clearly the higher priority.
In any case, she wasn't interested in the serpents; she felt disgust well up inside her as she watched their conflict with the soft meat. No — she had bigger prey, and she knew they would be upon her soon. She was bad blood, after all.
As she idly passed through the abandoned or contested facilities, she became lost in her thoughts, considering her next move..
► Show Spoiler
[The First Encounter]
Mad Blood stirred from her musings with a start, to a familiar sound she had long since grown accustomed to — the sound of a cloaking device, echoing ominously among the maze-like alleys. Her quarry had arrived, close.
"I hear you.." she rumbled lowly, her grip tightening around her rifle. Her drifting had lead her to the colony engineering facility, and she quickly began circling around, seeking her target.. "There you are." She spotted him lurking in the nearby cave, and she emerged from the shadows of the facility, standing at the lip of the tunnel. She paused for a moment, looking around. She stared at him incredulously. "Oh? One meager hunter is all your elders think I am worth? A young blood, at that. Truly, they did not learn from their mistakes."
The young blood's cloak faded around him with a sharp crackle as he twisted to face her. His tusks flared. The arrogance of this.. child-maker! "I've been tasked with your end, disgrace. Do not take me so lightly!"
Mad Blood strapped her rifle behind her back, sauntering over to the young blood. "Who are you, pup?"
The young blood watched her approach warily, circling around her. "I am Gahn'tha-cte, of clan Bhu'ja. My elder has made no mistake, and you should hold your tongue," he growled, agitation clear in his movements. Agitation — and a little fear. To face a female.. He had sparred with many in his clan, but in true combat, against a bad blood no less..
She snorted, mirroring his path. "Ruthless Spirit. A bold name. Good, but your tongue speaks ill of your talent. Will you not honor me in a dance of blade? I did not wish to go down so easily by your weak venom." She drew her scythe into her hand with a flourish, tightening the circle.
Gahn'tha-cte swung the glaive from his back, his mandibles clicking together in eager laughter. "I was waiting for you to suggest such."
—
Mad Blood made the first move, swiftly lunging towards Gahn'tha-cte with an overhead sweep of her blades. He grimaced, barely able to react before he felt a sharp twinge of pain in his hand. He returned the favor, a harsh jab delivered to her gut, doubling her over. She howled, Gahn'tha-cte grunted as she drove her head into his stomach, forcing him back.
Before he could gather his bearings, he was quickly overwhelmed with a whirlwind of spinning slashes, driving him back even further. There was little momentum behind the attacks, barely sinking past his heavy armor, but they were relentless. 'Enough of this,' he thundered internally, lunging forward with the shaft of his glaive extended. Mad Blood stumbled against the heavy slam, opting to retreat with a backwards bound.
Mad Blood gathered herself, regarding Gahn'tha-cte with anticipation. She could feel adrenaline burning inside her, an eager hunger building in her chest. Scarcely able to contain herself, she pounced forward, twisting around his backside and raising her scythe high..
Gahn'tha-cte heard a loud CRACK reverberating in his skull, driving him into the dirt. He gripped his head, roaring as waves of pain cascaded from the solid blow.
"Stand, you fool. I am not done with my prize," Mad Blood barked, lowering the blunt edge of her scythe as she stared down at him.
Gahn'tha-cte stabbed the hilt of his glaive into the ground as he gathered his bearings, struggling to his feet. "That will be.. your last lucky strike.."
He knelt — and with a raging roar, he burst forward, drawing out his glaive in a flurry of cleaving swings. Mad Blood paled, frantically weaving around the sudden onslaught — she thrust out her scythe, missing his head by inches as she lurched away — and pain exploded from her side, sending her to her knees. She felt the deep gash-oozing blood—and she glared up at Gahn'tha-cte, still twisted into his swing. Their gazes met for a brief instant, and Gahn'tha-cte felt his rage grow hotter at his success, elation building up inside him—!
Mad Blood lurched, drawing back her scythe with a sharp tug. Then Gahn'tha-cte felt nothing, as his severed head fell to the ground with a dull thump.
—
Mad Blood shuddered, her arms dropping to her sides as she shook with adrenaline. She reached up to remove her mask, her mandibles rapidly clicking together with a deep, guttural laugh. She reached out, taking Gahn'tha-cte's head, slowly turning it around in her hands — admiring her trophy. "This one was a strong hunter. Slow, but a worthy warrior. How.. Enjoyable." She removed his mask, placing it inside her hunting pouch with her prize.
Mad Blood shakily rose to her feet, withdrawing a crystal injector from the pouch. She stabbed it into her side, a guttural growl escaping her throat. Kneeling down, she threw Gahn'tha-cte's body over her shoulder, before turning on her heel back into the colony.
► Show Spoiler
[The Last Duel]
Elder Zazin Kentra leaned back in the command seat, the overhead monitor receding with a whirring clank. He exhaled deeply, tapping a taloned finger on the armrest, his brow furrowed.
"I fear that the young blood is lost. He died a glorious death, as was expected." His mandibles clicked quietly, head bowed in mourning. He remained sitting for a moment longer, offering a solemn prayer to Paya. Finally, he stood, proceeding through the ship. "It is time to wake another. A blooded warrior, this time.."
Quickly arriving at the crew quarters, he looked around deliberately, considering his choice. He moved to one of the bunks, rousing a sleeping hunter. He quickly woke, regarding his Elder with a click of his tusks. Zazin gestured to the hall. "Ready yourself, warrior. Meet me in the great hall."
—
Le'Pro stood before his elder in the central chamber. "Greetings, Elder Kantra. What has awoken us from our slumber?" he queried, inclining his head in respectful curiosity. The hunter had equipped himself with his own staff and wrist scimitar, bare compared to the young blood, but Zazin knew this one was swift.
"You have been awoken to take upon a great objective. A criminal, Mad Blood, has taken the life of another hunter on the planet below. They must be stopped."
Le'Pro tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowed. "Mad Blood? I had thought they were systems away.. Interesting," he mused.
Zazin gestured to a console occupying the center of the chamber. "We have tracked her to this colony, where she seems to have been lying in wait. Your hunt brother fought honorably, but he was unable to kill the bad blood. I have his recording here. I will have it transmitted to you. May it help you in your Hunt."
Le'Pro inclined his head deeply. "May he be remembered, and welcomed in the land of the dead." Zazin slowly nodded, motioning for the hunter to follow him. "Do not fool around with this one, warrior. This criminal is highly skilled, as you will soon see." "Of course, elder," Le'Pro quickly affirmed.
They stopped before the airlock, Le'Pro stepping inside. They exchanged a nod, as Le'Pro quickly faded from view.
"May Paya watch over and smile upon you. Let it be so."
—————
Mad Blood ran into a bit more trouble making her way around. The other creatures were content to ignore her before, caught up in their own little skirmishes, but carrying around a corpse had a way of attracting attention. The serpents were the worst about it. Soft meat at least had their wits enough to hesitate at the sight of her, but the serpents were feeling more confident about attacking her while she was preoccupied with her heavy load.
"Cjit!" she cursed, rushing through the dark claustrophobic halls in her haste to evade a group of serpents on her tail. Not many, but they were big ones, and she didn't feel confident about her ability to fight in such a confining space. She fired a few ill-aimed blasts from her rifle as she frantically searched for an exit. She lunged, smashing her way through a window into She was sorely tempted to throw off her cargo and face the serpents directly, now that she was in more advantageous terrain, when she suddenly halted just outside the jagged, scrapped remains of the airlock.
There, a few dozen meters directly in front her, stood another hunter.
"Oh. To think I would cross you so soon." Mad Blood eagerly strode forward, keeping an eye on the serpents tailing her. The serpents paused before the airlock, hissing lowly at the sight of the new threat. She raised her rifle, aiming directly at the serpent in front. It roared, charging directly at her, and she fired — blasting it back into the group of serpents behind it. As soon as the lead serpent was back on its feet, she fired off a few low-powered shots, and they quickly retreated back into the dark hall, hissing sharply at her.
Mad Blood huffed, turning back to the new hunter, and Le'Pro's gaze suddenly locked onto the body over her shoulder. "Release the young blood's body," he hissed.
"Or what?" she challenged.
"Or I will remove your hands to retrieve it."
"To think only my hands would be at risk. How unfortunate," Mad Blood spat. "I thought you would dare take my life."
"Do not taunt me. First I will take your hands, then your life," Le'Pro growled.
"Hmph. You are very confident. I will give you a present for your courage." Mad Blood rumbled. She reached up, taking the body by the wrist. She slowly slid her hand towards the bracer-
Le'Pro felt his blood run cold as he balked, taking a hesitant step back. "You wouldn't dare!"
Mad Blood snorted, tossing the corpse gracelessly to the ground at Le'Pro's feet. "Here. You may have the rest of his body. I did not grow much appetite for it." Le'Pro knelt by the corpse, inspecting it. He gave Mad Blood a withering glare, watching her closely as he moved the body against the wall of the building behind him. "You will be returned shortly, young one." He quickly rose to his feet, drawing his staff and extending his wrist scimitar in one smooth motion as he quickly stomped towards her. "You play with fire, Mad Blood."
Mad Blood felt her pulse quicken, drawing her own scythe and twirling it with a flourish. She strode forward to meet him. "I do. Would you join me for a dance? A good show, for the other factions, will it not be?" And indeed, a few curious soft meat had appeared, keeping their distance as they watched from around corners or through windows.
Le'Pro stared directly at her as he rapidly approached, raising his scimitar high. "Your death will provide great joy to the viewers!" Mad Blood suddenly lunged forward into his stride, lashing out with her scythe. Le'Pro froze at the sudden unexpected intrusion, quickly regretting his mistake. He howled, his arm lopped off at the elbow, arcing through the air.
He hastily spun around, reaching for his combi-stick. "Your hand, you said?" Mad Blood cackled.
Le'Pro's musk of aggression quickly spread around the clearing, an oily scent clogging the air. He growled, "Your hand. If you think this bothers me, you are wrong. My hatred will guide my spear."
Mad Blood knelt low, circling around him. "Perhaps I should let you die from your blood loss? Or would you rather we finish with haste?"
With a flick of his wrist, Le'Pro extended his combi-stick. "I feel nothing but burning rage and pity for you."
"Good, but pity will lead you nowhere."
Le'Pro rumbled low in his throat. "Come, let this end, then."
—
Mad Blood had underestimated this hunter. She had toyed with him initially, thinking him crippled with only one hand, but this warrior was much swifter than her, if not quite as strong. Nearly every blow she delivered, he matched with a quick parry or dodge, as if predicting her strikes. He had several deep cuts all around his body, but they didn't appear to slow him down much. Looking at herself, she wasn't much better off. Wide gouges in her arms and legs as punishment for her reckless lunges at the start, she quickly learned her lesson. He had even paid her back for her comment, aiming straight for her hand and leaving a deep tear in her palm.
She knew that one would leave a terrible scar.
She had managed to knock him down several times through brute strength, adrenaline rushing through her at her small victories, but she refused to strike him while he was down, and he was quick to return to his feet. Still, she knew she was wearing him down. Every time, he began to take noticeably longer to rise, and he was slower to react.
Mad Blood's chest heaved in deep breaths, blood oozing from the gouges around her body. She was tired, and she knew he was too. Just one slip-up was all she needed.. She took a risk, charging him while his spear was lowered. He punished her for her inelegant lunge with a harsh bat to the head with his staff, but she took advantage of his over-extension, thrusting the blade of her scythe into his neck.
It didn't go far, she couldn't build enough momentum to decapitate him, but he reeled back all the same, clutching the gushing wound. He attempted to speak, to roar, but all he could manage was a wet gurgle and a frantic series of clicks from his mandibles, blood seeping between his fingers.
Mad Blood's head swam from the punishing blow, and she strained to maintain her focus just a little longer. With her scythe raised, she spun sharply, jamming the blade straight through the back of his neck, blood spurting in a small fountain at his feet. A harsh pull, and Mad Blood wrenched Le'Pro's head from his body completely with a sickening tear. He collapsed to the ground, and exhausted Mad Blood quickly followed.
—
Mad Blood watched her surroundings carefully as she lay there, her chest raggedly drawing in and out. There were a few curious onlookers remaining, but a few warning shots from her caster quickly drove them away. After a while of resting, she struggled to her feet, dragging herself over to Le'Pro's body. She knelt, gently removing Le'Pro's head from her discarded scythe. She removed his mask with a quick jerk, placing her prizes and his compressed staff inside her pouch with a low sigh, as she began dragging his body over to his fellow hunter.
A low hiss emanated from her right, and she quickly glanced up, her tusks dipping in a grimace. The serpents were emerging, searching for her now that the threat was gone. She quickly hauled both bodies over her shoulders, a series of hisses and roars echoing down the alleys. She dove through the hole she had made in the airlock previously, bounding through with more confidence in her path this time.
Turning into a pitch-black room around a few bends, she gently lowered the bodies to the floor, taking Le'Pro's bracer into her hand. It glowed ominously in the dark as she fiddled with it, slowly backing away as it began emitting a slow series of beeps. "My final gift," she murmured. She reached into her pouch, activating her ship recall device. After a brief moment.. she faded away.
————————————————————
► Show Spoiler
[Solaris Ridge]
L'ulij-bpe Thwei — Mad Blood — skulked through the deep cave tunnels surrounding the desolate colony. Muted roars and screams echoed down the dark corridors, setting her on edge. She reached back and drew her plasma rifle, her lower mandibles flaring in agitation as she took a look around, scanning the darkness.
She stopped for a moment — spotting a trail of red blood further down, leading through a rocky entrance to the colony itself. She stepped outside under the cold night sky, following the trail.
—————
[Scout Vessel, above Solaris Ridge]
Elder Zazin Kentra stood patiently in the central chamber of the vessel. A young unblooded finished his preparations, exiting the armory equipped with heavy clan armor and glaive. He stood before the elder with his head lowered in respect. Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja. Elder Zazin looked upon the young blood, considering his charge carefully. He contemplated for a moment, before speaking.
"If you do this, you will be among the blooded of our clan. But — it is no small feat. Mad Blood is extremely dangerous. Take care when confronting her." Elder Zazin fixed Gahn'tha-cte with a firm stare, placing a hand on the young blood's shoulder. "Do not fail, young one. But if you do, go to the great Hunt as an honorable warrior. Do not disgrace your elders."
Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja offered a curt nod, bowing more deeply in acknowledgement. "I will ensure that Cetanu judges them accordingly," he rumbled. He gave one last check to his equipment, proceeding to the airlock where the colony below awaited.
Elder Zazin regarded Gahn'the-cte as he left, inclining his head. He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering.. "Oh great and wise Paya, Lord of the Hunt, protect the young one. Give him strength, mind, and spirit."
—————
Mad Blood had been lurking through the colony for some time, slipping into the shadows as the occasional serpent ran past, aware but strangely uncaring of her presence. It seemed their Queen had apparently dismissed her, more concerned with the soft meat invading their Hive. She quickly stopped bothering to hide, practically daring them to stop her, but their Queen was clearly the higher priority.
In any case, she wasn't interested in the serpents; she felt disgust well up inside her as she watched their conflict with the soft meat. No — she had bigger prey, and she knew they would be upon her soon. She was bad blood, after all.
As she idly passed through the abandoned or contested facilities, she became lost in her thoughts, considering her next move..
► Show Spoiler
[The First Encounter]
Mad Blood stirred from her musings with a start, to a familiar sound she had long since grown accustomed to — the sound of a cloaking device, echoing ominously among the maze-like alleys. Her quarry had arrived, close.
"I hear you.." she rumbled lowly, her grip tightening around her rifle. Her drifting had lead her to the colony engineering facility, and she quickly began circling around, seeking her target.. "There you are." She spotted him lurking in the nearby cave, and she emerged from the shadows of the facility, standing at the lip of the tunnel. She paused for a moment, looking around. She stared at him incredulously. "Oh? One meager hunter is all your elders think I am worth? A young blood, at that. Truly, they did not learn from their mistakes."
The young blood's cloak faded around him with a sharp crackle as he twisted to face her. His tusks flared. The arrogance of this.. child-maker! "I've been tasked with your end, disgrace. Do not take me so lightly!"
Mad Blood strapped her rifle behind her back, sauntering over to the young blood. "Who are you, pup?"
The young blood watched her approach warily, circling around her. "I am Gahn'tha-cte, of clan Bhu'ja. My elder has made no mistake, and you should hold your tongue," he growled, agitation clear in his movements. Agitation — and a little fear. To face a female.. He had sparred with many in his clan, but in true combat, against a bad blood no less..
She snorted, mirroring his path. "Ruthless Spirit. A bold name. Good, but your tongue speaks ill of your talent. Will you not honor me in a dance of blade? I did not wish to go down so easily by your weak venom." She drew her scythe into her hand with a flourish, tightening the circle.
Gahn'tha-cte swung the glaive from his back, his mandibles clicking together in eager laughter. "I was waiting for you to suggest such."
—
Mad Blood made the first move, swiftly lunging towards Gahn'tha-cte with an overhead sweep of her blades. He grimaced, barely able to react before he felt a sharp twinge of pain in his hand. He returned the favor, a harsh jab delivered to her gut, doubling her over. She howled, Gahn'tha-cte grunted as she drove her head into his stomach, forcing him back.
Before he could gather his bearings, he was quickly overwhelmed with a whirlwind of spinning slashes, driving him back even further. There was little momentum behind the attacks, barely sinking past his heavy armor, but they were relentless. 'Enough of this,' he thundered internally, lunging forward with the shaft of his glaive extended. Mad Blood stumbled against the heavy slam, opting to retreat with a backwards bound.
Mad Blood gathered herself, regarding Gahn'tha-cte with anticipation. She could feel adrenaline burning inside her, an eager hunger building in her chest. Scarcely able to contain herself, she pounced forward, twisting around his backside and raising her scythe high..
Gahn'tha-cte heard a loud CRACK reverberating in his skull, driving him into the dirt. He gripped his head, roaring as waves of pain cascaded from the solid blow.
"Stand, you fool. I am not done with my prize," Mad Blood barked, lowering the blunt edge of her scythe as she stared down at him.
Gahn'tha-cte stabbed the hilt of his glaive into the ground as he gathered his bearings, struggling to his feet. "That will be.. your last lucky strike.."
He knelt — and with a raging roar, he burst forward, drawing out his glaive in a flurry of cleaving swings. Mad Blood paled, frantically weaving around the sudden onslaught — she thrust out her scythe, missing his head by inches as she lurched away — and pain exploded from her side, sending her to her knees. She felt the deep gash-oozing blood—and she glared up at Gahn'tha-cte, still twisted into his swing. Their gazes met for a brief instant, and Gahn'tha-cte felt his rage grow hotter at his success, elation building up inside him—!
Mad Blood lurched, drawing back her scythe with a sharp tug. Then Gahn'tha-cte felt nothing, as his severed head fell to the ground with a dull thump.
—
Mad Blood shuddered, her arms dropping to her sides as she shook with adrenaline. She reached up to remove her mask, her mandibles rapidly clicking together with a deep, guttural laugh. She reached out, taking Gahn'tha-cte's head, slowly turning it around in her hands — admiring her trophy. "This one was a strong hunter. Slow, but a worthy warrior. How.. Enjoyable." She removed his mask, placing it inside her hunting pouch with her prize.
Mad Blood shakily rose to her feet, withdrawing a crystal injector from the pouch. She stabbed it into her side, a guttural growl escaping her throat. Kneeling down, she threw Gahn'tha-cte's body over her shoulder, before turning on her heel back into the colony.
► Show Spoiler
[The Last Duel]
Elder Zazin Kentra leaned back in the command seat, the overhead monitor receding with a whirring clank. He exhaled deeply, tapping a taloned finger on the armrest, his brow furrowed.
"I fear that the young blood is lost. He died a glorious death, as was expected." His mandibles clicked quietly, head bowed in mourning. He remained sitting for a moment longer, offering a solemn prayer to Paya. Finally, he stood, proceeding through the ship. "It is time to wake another. A blooded warrior, this time.."
Quickly arriving at the crew quarters, he looked around deliberately, considering his choice. He moved to one of the bunks, rousing a sleeping hunter. He quickly woke, regarding his Elder with a click of his tusks. Zazin gestured to the hall. "Ready yourself, warrior. Meet me in the great hall."
—
Le'Pro stood before his elder in the central chamber. "Greetings, Elder Kantra. What has awoken us from our slumber?" he queried, inclining his head in respectful curiosity. The hunter had equipped himself with his own staff and wrist scimitar, bare compared to the young blood, but Zazin knew this one was swift.
"You have been awoken to take upon a great objective. A criminal, Mad Blood, has taken the life of another hunter on the planet below. They must be stopped."
Le'Pro tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowed. "Mad Blood? I had thought they were systems away.. Interesting," he mused.
Zazin gestured to a console occupying the center of the chamber. "We have tracked her to this colony, where she seems to have been lying in wait. Your hunt brother fought honorably, but he was unable to kill the bad blood. I have his recording here. I will have it transmitted to you. May it help you in your Hunt."
Le'Pro inclined his head deeply. "May he be remembered, and welcomed in the land of the dead." Zazin slowly nodded, motioning for the hunter to follow him. "Do not fool around with this one, warrior. This criminal is highly skilled, as you will soon see." "Of course, elder," Le'Pro quickly affirmed.
They stopped before the airlock, Le'Pro stepping inside. They exchanged a nod, as Le'Pro quickly faded from view.
"May Paya watch over and smile upon you. Let it be so."
—————
Mad Blood ran into a bit more trouble making her way around. The other creatures were content to ignore her before, caught up in their own little skirmishes, but carrying around a corpse had a way of attracting attention. The serpents were the worst about it. Soft meat at least had their wits enough to hesitate at the sight of her, but the serpents were feeling more confident about attacking her while she was preoccupied with her heavy load.
"Cjit!" she cursed, rushing through the dark claustrophobic halls in her haste to evade a group of serpents on her tail. Not many, but they were big ones, and she didn't feel confident about her ability to fight in such a confining space. She fired a few ill-aimed blasts from her rifle as she frantically searched for an exit. She lunged, smashing her way through a window into She was sorely tempted to throw off her cargo and face the serpents directly, now that she was in more advantageous terrain, when she suddenly halted just outside the jagged, scrapped remains of the airlock.
There, a few dozen meters directly in front her, stood another hunter.
"Oh. To think I would cross you so soon." Mad Blood eagerly strode forward, keeping an eye on the serpents tailing her. The serpents paused before the airlock, hissing lowly at the sight of the new threat. She raised her rifle, aiming directly at the serpent in front. It roared, charging directly at her, and she fired — blasting it back into the group of serpents behind it. As soon as the lead serpent was back on its feet, she fired off a few low-powered shots, and they quickly retreated back into the dark hall, hissing sharply at her.
Mad Blood huffed, turning back to the new hunter, and Le'Pro's gaze suddenly locked onto the body over her shoulder. "Release the young blood's body," he hissed.
"Or what?" she challenged.
"Or I will remove your hands to retrieve it."
"To think only my hands would be at risk. How unfortunate," Mad Blood spat. "I thought you would dare take my life."
"Do not taunt me. First I will take your hands, then your life," Le'Pro growled.
"Hmph. You are very confident. I will give you a present for your courage." Mad Blood rumbled. She reached up, taking the body by the wrist. She slowly slid her hand towards the bracer-
Le'Pro felt his blood run cold as he balked, taking a hesitant step back. "You wouldn't dare!"
Mad Blood snorted, tossing the corpse gracelessly to the ground at Le'Pro's feet. "Here. You may have the rest of his body. I did not grow much appetite for it." Le'Pro knelt by the corpse, inspecting it. He gave Mad Blood a withering glare, watching her closely as he moved the body against the wall of the building behind him. "You will be returned shortly, young one." He quickly rose to his feet, drawing his staff and extending his wrist scimitar in one smooth motion as he quickly stomped towards her. "You play with fire, Mad Blood."
Mad Blood felt her pulse quicken, drawing her own scythe and twirling it with a flourish. She strode forward to meet him. "I do. Would you join me for a dance? A good show, for the other factions, will it not be?" And indeed, a few curious soft meat had appeared, keeping their distance as they watched from around corners or through windows.
Le'Pro stared directly at her as he rapidly approached, raising his scimitar high. "Your death will provide great joy to the viewers!" Mad Blood suddenly lunged forward into his stride, lashing out with her scythe. Le'Pro froze at the sudden unexpected intrusion, quickly regretting his mistake. He howled, his arm lopped off at the elbow, arcing through the air.
He hastily spun around, reaching for his combi-stick. "Your hand, you said?" Mad Blood cackled.
Le'Pro's musk of aggression quickly spread around the clearing, an oily scent clogging the air. He growled, "Your hand. If you think this bothers me, you are wrong. My hatred will guide my spear."
Mad Blood knelt low, circling around him. "Perhaps I should let you die from your blood loss? Or would you rather we finish with haste?"
With a flick of his wrist, Le'Pro extended his combi-stick. "I feel nothing but burning rage and pity for you."
"Good, but pity will lead you nowhere."
Le'Pro rumbled low in his throat. "Come, let this end, then."
—
Mad Blood had underestimated this hunter. She had toyed with him initially, thinking him crippled with only one hand, but this warrior was much swifter than her, if not quite as strong. Nearly every blow she delivered, he matched with a quick parry or dodge, as if predicting her strikes. He had several deep cuts all around his body, but they didn't appear to slow him down much. Looking at herself, she wasn't much better off. Wide gouges in her arms and legs as punishment for her reckless lunges at the start, she quickly learned her lesson. He had even paid her back for her comment, aiming straight for her hand and leaving a deep tear in her palm.
She knew that one would leave a terrible scar.
She had managed to knock him down several times through brute strength, adrenaline rushing through her at her small victories, but she refused to strike him while he was down, and he was quick to return to his feet. Still, she knew she was wearing him down. Every time, he began to take noticeably longer to rise, and he was slower to react.
Mad Blood's chest heaved in deep breaths, blood oozing from the gouges around her body. She was tired, and she knew he was too. Just one slip-up was all she needed.. She took a risk, charging him while his spear was lowered. He punished her for her inelegant lunge with a harsh bat to the head with his staff, but she took advantage of his overextension, thrusting the blade of her scythe into his neck.
It didn't go far, she couldn't build enough momentum to decapitate him, but he reeled back all the same, clutching the gushing wound. He attempted to speak, to roar, but all he could manage was a wet gurgle and a frantic series of clicks from his mandibles, blood seeping between his fingers.
Mad Blood's head swam from the punishing blow, and she strained to maintain her focus just a little longer. With her scythe raised, she spun sharply, jamming the blade straight through the back of his neck, blood spurting in a small fountain at his feet. A harsh pull, and Mad Blood wrenched Le'Pro's head from his body completely with a sickening tear. He collapsed to the ground, and exhausted Mad Blood quickly followed.
—
Mad Blood watched her surroundings carefully as she lay there, her chest raggedly drawing in and out. There were a few curious onlookers remaining, but a few warning shots from her caster quickly drove them away. After a while of resting, she struggled to her feet, dragging herself over to Le'Pro's body. She knelt, gently removing Le'Pro's head from her discarded scythe. She removed his mask with a quick jerk, placing her prizes and his compressed staff inside her pouch with a low sigh, as she began dragging his body over to his fellow hunter.
A low hiss emanated from her right, and she quickly glanced up, her tusks dipping in a grimace. The serpents were emerging, searching for her now that the threat was gone. She quickly hauled both bodies over her shoulders, a series of hisses and roars echoing down the alleys. She dove through the hole she had made in the airlock previously, bounding through with more confidence in her path this time.
Turning into a pitch-black room around a few bends, she gently lowered the bodies to the floor, taking Le'Pro's bracer into her hand. It glowed ominously in the dark as she fiddled with it, slowly backing away as it began emitting a slow series of beeps. "My final gift," she murmured. She reached into her pouch, activating her ship recall device. After a brief moment.. she faded away.
Gahn'tha-cte Bhu'ja: Honorable duelist, beserker charger, jungle hunter.