AVP Ultimate Prey 23

The scent of smoke from a campfire and a curious meaty odor drew her attention. A short walk led her into a small camp to find a young female predator propped against a tree. The female hunter was naked. Her skin was pale and covered with black tiger stripes at the sides of her abdomen, arms, and legs. Cords tied the hunter's arms to an overhead branch and her extended legs were roped together. Toes and fingers ended in black talons that looked sharp as daggers. A pair of big feet smoldered in the embers of the campfire.-pg.173 chpt.6

Kentarus took pity on the female hunter, for she too felt the sting of a man's betrayal and assumed they shared a desire for revenge.

"I saw a second hunter. Another female?"

The injured hunter snarled and tried to move her feet. Kentarus stomped out the fire. She used the spear to push the hunter's seared feet out of the embers.

"I'm going to untie you, but first we make a deal. I need a way off this rock. You help me, I help you. Agreed?"

Bursts of blue plasma shot out of the trees, slamming into the ground close to where Kentarus squatted beside the injured female. Reacting as she would to help a fellow marine, she cut the hunter free, pulled her up, and together they ran for cover, under a hailstorm of gunfire that set the trees on fire.-pg.174 chpt.6

Blood Venom pointed at the ship and made clicking sounds.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. We have to cross," Kentarus said.

The pair walked along an old footpath set with broken stones. Her companion suddenly halted as a pair of Praetorians appeared on the path ahead.

"I hope you can swim."

Loud screeches came from the Xenomorphs. Handing the spear to the young hunter, Kentarus wrapped an arm under Blood Venom's shoulder and pulled her into the water. The current was strong, forcing Kentarus to swim on her side to hold the larger and heavier female above the water. Her companion pushed Kentarus away and swam on her own. When they reached the bank, the pair climbed out of the water.

As they scaled the rocks, a sudden barrage of blue plasma struck a Praetorian in the head on the far bank, exposing a neon yellow brain before it toppled into the water.

"It's Old Rhino. Damn," Kentarus muttered.

With a furious screech, the young queen appeared on the opposite bank. The queen noticed Kentarus and Blood Venom on the rocks and scrambled into the water, heading after them. The male hunter suddenly appeared and dove into the water to swim after the queen. Blood Venom pulled Kentarus to the top of the boulder, and together they ran to the ship.-pg.176 chpt.6