Memoirs of a RAFian

[redtailedsaffa]

I guess it's a dignity thing, you know, like, "oh my gawd, I couldn't defeat these guys by any stretch of the imagination, eish I don't deserve to live" that kinda thing. Like some battle-obsessed warrior.

[Cloak]

Just something I read on their Wikipedia page, Abby. Based on the samurai, I believe. They have to commit ritualized suicide when they failed their daimyo or when they've been dishonored. Apparently, the Predators consider a failed hunt dishonoring.

Another brief chapter.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
Preds and Shreds

Noelle galloped along her chosen pathway, deliberately leaving obvious signs of her presence in the area. She didn't really know how smart these Predators actually were, but she knew that they certainly thought they were particularly smart.

She paused for a moment, looking through her stalk eyes, and saw a brief movement, a distortion of reality. It was very clear that it was using its camouflage thing.

Noelle the broke into full gallop toward the spot where the distress beacon was. It was an open, circular space literally littered with large, twisted metal things everywhere. She could easily use them as cover to morph.

She hid behind one that appeared to have a rather large bite imprint in it. Noelle did not miss it, and could not help but wonder if this used to be Pootang's nursery.

What a disturbing thought.

Noelle, while waiting for the Predator, wondered what it was like to deal with monster as an infant -- Pichu? -- then through adolescence, into monster adulthood.

Noelle soon pulled her mind from that and put it to work at the task at hand. She was going through her litany of morphs accessible to her. The big and bulky one would have to be the go to ones. . . .

***

The Predator found the notched, chipped stones and sliced pillars that were the path Noelle left deliberately. The Predator glared at it scornfully. These creatures are too careless, he thought distastefully, completely unaware of the intentional actions of the Markings. The Predator, unlike the previous ones indulged in actually secrecy and stealth. He was also decent at it. His scorn for Andalites was evident, though he remained pitifully ignorant of their, arguably, greatest scientific achievement.

He regarded them as simple herbivores whose only reason for existing was to be hunted. He knew Noelle would nearly impossible to sneak up on, due to those stalk eyes of her. But that's why they have camouflage technology.

The tailblade was also a problem, although, this Predator supposed, it wouldn't be a problem once it was severed . . .

Yes, he decided, that would be the trophy he takes from this kill. He would take Noelle's tail.

[theyoungphoenix]

Oh crap!

[Cloak]

Only six chapters from the end.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Quick Morphs

The Predator strolled up to the distress beacon, perplexed at why hasn't been touched. He wondered if that pathetic beast even made it this far.

Then he was struck in the head by a tail, and he managed to right himself to see that his assailant was a Buglizard, who roared defiance.

"Pathetic," the Predator said in the Predator language. "You can't best me with monster pets!"

It was enough for Noelle's translator chip to start working. She almost wished it hadn't.

Thw shoulder-mounted laser cannon blasted at Noelle, nicking her Buglizard tail enough to break the skin.

She spewed out a yellowish gas that could dissolve Lepidopterran goo, and vanished into the cloud.

"A foolish tactic!" the Predator coughed. Then he fired his laser cannon into the gas, hitting nothing.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the Predator vibrated as a huge beast, a Slamworm, burst forth and held the Predator in its jaws. The Predator managed to wiggle away, and survive, muttering, quite audibly, "How many pets does this thing have?"

<I have news for you,> Noelle said, demorphing in plain view and then morphing a Root Shark, <They're morphs, not pets.>

"It doesn't matter the number of shape you inhabit," the Predator snarled. "I'll still have your tail -- or head or whatever!"

<Lose the condescension,> Noelle advised acidly, hiding the fatigue of multiple morphing, lunging forward. <You haven't a hope.>

After three lunges, Noelle demorphed, and morphed a Terroranchula. Then she made several energy nets to tie down the Predator, aware that they wouldn't hold him for long.

She demorphed, took a breath, and then morphed a Mucillator.

The Predator freed itself, and charged Noelle, only to get trapped in one the pustules.

<Face it,> Noelle said, breathing hard but determinedly. <You can't beat me.>

"These changes of shape obviously tire you out," the Predator said shrewdly, extricating itself.

Noelled demorphed quickly, and had her tailblade at his throat before he could recover.

<And yet tired you out as well,> Noelle said. <Your hunt has failed big time, pal.>

"Finish it," he said.

Noelle looked at him,and decided that he was just nit worth it.

<No,> Noelle said, turning away, <get a life.>

Unable to put up with shame of being defeated by a "lesser being" and being forced by his culture's demands, he took his own life.

[redtailedsaffa]

Clearly he decided to ignore the statement "get a life".

[Cloak]

Right.

Not sure if i can post again soon, power's out. Which means I'm on borrowed time, essentially, until ths battery needs recharging and I can hear all of my neighbor's innane conversations (a lot of which concern him yelling at his mutt, "Thunder", to shut up).

[redtailedsaffa]

Good, I'm not the only one with stupid power cuts.

A dog named Thunder? Seriously? That's more suited to a horse!

[theyoungphoenix]

Haha. Why would you name a dog 'Thunder'. Sounds kinda stupid. *sigh* good luck with that power outage Cloak!

[Cloak]

I think it is a stupid name, too.

But this neighbor of mine isn't too bright (he thought playing drums AT NIGHT was a good idea). He also uses irrelevent facts to try to support his side. Too many years of alcohol, I suppose.

If it comes back on, I'll try and post the last five chapters.

[theyoungphoenix]

Oh, he's THAT neighbor. Hmm... I'm worried that one day stupidity will rule the galaxy.

[redtailedsaffa]

If you spend a lot of time on the internet you'll be convinced that it already does.

[theyoungphoenix]

Okay then, universe.

[Cloak]

Well, yeah, but the power is back on, so . . .

A brief chapter! Sorry, about the brevity, the neighbor's "music" seems to be getting louder and louder. Ugh.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
The Pred Element

Then Cloak, the last RAFian of the six yet to tangle with a Predator, walked at his own pace, which was plenty swift in its own right. Cloak wore an expression that oscillated from impassive indifference to utter exasperation. Perhaps that version of stealth worked with other, nonsapient prey, but it was rather pathetic. At least Van Pyrrhus and Malice knew how to be an effective threat. This . . . this was just pitiable.

Unlike many other species, Realm Walkers haven't got any natural predators. Not a one. So this was just . . . just . . . just blasphemy, in a way. This Predator had no idea -- no idea -- what he got himself in to.

Only old age and another Realm Walker can kill a Realm Walker. That has never changed for over twenty billion or so Dweller Earth years.

Cloak made no attempt to hide himself, to lose the Predator, to evade him, or anything. It could be called arrogance, it could be called ****iness, it could be called complacency. Cloak didn't care.

He didn.t like being considered pr-- he suddenly realized just how Horse felt. Every rime, emphasis on "every", the Pootang got out, it tried to or succeeded in eating Horse. Granted, Horse always got out whole -- er, one way or the . . . the other.

And she never compl-- okay, that's not entirely true. But he could understand the complaints now. He had a frame of reference now.

He eventually came to a forest grove, a woodsy grotto. There were plenty of places to hide.

Cloak did not hide.

Call it pride, call it whatever you like, Cloak didn't care, he was going to face this Predator. Face him, and show him just why Realm Walkers haven't any natural predators.

[Underseen]

I like the chapters name. Sounds like a movie title.

[theyoungphoenix]

Ya, it does. great chapter.