Dark Hunt

[Kameron Esters-]

The planet of Almas, The Barren World. With it's dry deserts that could leave degree burns in less than two hours. It's atmoshpere that could melt your lungs in under thirty minutes. Almost every year about 250 people die just by going into the marshes alone and are never heard from again. It's quite. Well. Close. You could hear noises. Quiet, yet, shrill noises from the distance and in between the tall grass. The sky is somewhat murky. Like the star that shone on the planet could never fully get it's rays of light through the sky.
@Dav Wren​

 

[Dav Wren]

Almas was just as nice as Dav had always heard. That was to say it was a barren hellhole. He had heard of some Sith Lord creating whatever was here and it seemed about right. A hellish planet like this was totally in keeping with the shadowy, sinister types he'd occasionally done jobs for in years past. But what was a little discomfort for a man whose life had seldom been safe or easy.

He'd landed his ship, dubbed Atiniir, on the edges of the marsh. It was into them they'd go, he and another called Thrit Cest. Off to hunt dark lizards in an age old rite of passage. One that could easily end up with one or both of them dead.

But it wasn't the idea of dying that bothered him as much as failure. If he couldn't hunt down one of these overgrown iguanas then what kind of warrior was he? Never mind that they'd killed Jedi before. He wasn't a pampered do-nothing coddled in some Temple, he was Mando'ade.

Dav rested his hands on both pistol and sword as he waited for Cest's arrival.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Thrit jumps out of the tall grass behind Dav, tackles him by the neck, and flips them both over into the ground. Thrit quickly gets on his feet and turns to Sac. "Heheh. Got ya'."

This by far one of the few times Thrit had jokes around like this. He was usually above merry times, but he was feeling rather excited. Not only because he's come back home after 15 years roaming the galaxy in search of challenges, but he has someone to share his favorite hobby. Dark Hunting. Thrit gives Dav a hand up.
@Dav Wren

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav felt himself jumped from behind, thinking it was one of the dark lizards grabbing him by the neck. It was the habit of most predatory animals to attack neck and hamstrings. The big Mando grunted as he hit the marshy ground but was already reaching for his boot knife on the way down. By the time he'd scrambled to his back he saw the other man there.

His heart was hammering into his ribs as the adrenaline was flooding him. Anger filled him as the other Mando'ade chuckled and offered him a hand. Dav swatted the proffered hand away and got to his feet himself. Wren pointed the knife almost close enough to touch Thrit's throat.

"Try that again and I will gut you like a zucker pig," he growled in Mando'a while still fuming under his helmet. Dav left the knife there for a few seconds longer to emphasize his words before sheathing it. He turned back to face the knotted cypress trees of the swamp.

"Let's go," Wren snapped and suited his own words by heading forward into the marshland.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Hmmm. He must not like surprises. Thrit supposed Dav wasn't in the mood. He must really want to go ahead and hunt. Well it's best not to joke much more.

Dark Lizards are no joke. Not at all. They are ferocious beasts. They stalk the marshes for whoever they catch trending them. Usually anything humanoid. The only thing they have to eat out here. And if they're really hungry, they will result to eating each other. Best to kill them first before they do so themselves. Thrit follows Dav before walking past him and taking the lead. "My apologize for tackling you."

 

[Dav Wren]

Wren said nothing to the apology, choosing instead to keep his attention on the marshes. It stank worse the further they went in. Soupy muck was ankle deep here and the trees were knotted together which blocked out much of the planet's sun. Shadows stretched and he kept an extra-vigilant watch.

There were plenty of places for the predatory lizards to hide. Dav moved carefully but he couldn't help but splash the stagnant water even just a little. That would probably be the dinner bell. But so far there was nothing as the birdsong hadn't stopped.

He'd learned that local wildlife would almost always go silent when they sensed a predator. Experience had also taught him that places like these weren't optimal for a rifle. Just like in a cantina attacks could come from any direction. That meant pistol, knife and short sword were best and that's what he'd brought with him. Their smaller size allowed for quick draws and use in tight spots.

The water had begun to bubble and belch out foul-smelling steam now which just made seeing that much harder. Even the built-in HUD and zoom in his bucket wasn't very helpful. Thermal vision would also be unhelpful. Lizards could often regulate their body temperature.

That meant they would almost be on top of the two before they saw them. This was about as primitive as it got, a real test of a warrior's skills.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Thrit saw the Dark Lizard coming out at them with its massive maw agape. He forgot how wide their moths could open. This one didn't waste time trying to eat. It must've been starving for days. Well. No use for it to suffer any longer. Thrit pulls out his vibroblade and rushes in on it. Thrit steps inside of it'd jaw and holds it's uper jaw up with his vibroblade, holding the Dark Lizard's mouth wide open. "Quickly! It's open!"

 

[Dav Wren]

Just then one of the lizards came crashing through the swamp. Dav spun to face it and was drawing his blade in an instant. Thrit was a split-second faster and fearlessly grabbed the carnivore by the jaws. He heard the other man shout to attack and he did just that with a two-handed grip. Wren drove the point and fifteen centimeters besides inside it's maw with a roar.

"Finish it, Thrit!," Dav shouted and he worked to retrieve his sword from the thrashing dark lizard. Most creatures this big rarely went down easy. It was only a strong grip that kept his gauntlet-clad hands on the weapon. He grunted and spread his feet wide for purchase. Despite sinking his weight he still stumbled this way and that with boots splashing loudly.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Thrit couldn't move all too much with him being in the Lizards mouth and all. The Dark Lizard was still applying much pressure, despite being struck not too long ago. Thrit could think of one option. He straightens his legs down and snaps his arms straight up and a smal squeeck sound can be heard from the lizard. It soon falls over into the mud and Thrit quickly gets up, his breathing at a fast pace. "First kill...Our of many..."

 

[Dav Wren]

It was with some great effort that they managed to take their first kill. After that Dav began to see Thrit Cest a little differently. There was more respect their now that this one had shown courage and skill. Not just anyone would grab a dark lizard by the mouth.

"You're crazy, Cest," he told the other man while they let their heart rate normalize. Dav meant that in a good way in this case. He decided the other Mando'ade needed a trophy because he was the one who'd taken down the beast.

After wiping the gore from his blade he sheathed it. He grabbed his boot knife again and crouched before the mouth. Working the blade, he worked a huge incisor out of the gums. It came out after a moment or two's work.

He stood and handed the bloody fang to Cest.

"Your kill."

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

"Heheh. We'll have so many of these, we can make necklaces out of them. And you think I was crazy for that, then you haven't heard of the time I had stabbed myself with my vibroblade." He could remember five years ago he had stabbed himself in the Trials of the Warrior Tournament. He was facing the soon to be Manda'lore Ral Viszla, and the over-planner Thyr Amnis. He was the first one out, because of a miscalculation with his vibroblades disastrous effects on its victims. Thrit had stabbed himself with the intention of catching his opponents off guard, but unfortunately it did not work out well for him and he ended up blowing his guts out. All in the pursuit of victory.From then on, every Mandalorian began to nickname him 'Grit Flesh'. Abit better than his previous name. His time in his recovery afterwards was by far the ultimate wake-up call he needed to regain his fighting spirit back. Now it feels as if nothing could hold him back.

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav just looked at him through the impassive, inhuman visor for a long moment. Was he having a laugh, Wren wondered about Cest, maybe he was. But Wren got the feeling that he probably was just about that crazy. The really crazy ones were just as dangerous as the skilled ones just in a different way.

It brought to mind the time a Hutt had run afoul of some cult on Nar Shadda. Dealing with suicide vest-strapped loonies was right up there with the hardest work he'd ever done. He'd earned every single karking credit that time. They just wouldn't stop coming even when he gut-shot them or they had their friend's blood spray all over their faces.

That would've stopped any ordinary being. But not those ones who were so high or crazed with devotion to their gods that mutilation and death were nothing. Dav had made the mistake of thinking a glancing pistol shot to the head would take out one female. She'd almost blown him to hell when she pulled the cord with the last of her strength.

There'd been a lengthy stay in a bacta tank after that, almost a week floating in the healing goop. Ever since then he'd learned to be a little more cautious around the crazies. Not afraid because that was as bad as not taking them seriously. Just keep your eyes and ears open and think fast.

"Alright, Cest," he said coming back into the present "If there's one, we both know there are others not far."

Dav drew his pistol and primed it for fire with a flick of his thumb. He kept his heavy-bladed knife handy in the other hand.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

"We are going to be making our way over there." Thrit points to a spire-like mound of high geometrical rock. " The Dark Silo. That's their resting place. We'll find the rest of them there, Especially the Alpha." It's been years since he had killed the Alpha Lizard of his time with his barehands as a test to see whether or not he was ready to pursuit the great challenges of the galaxy. No doubt the Dark Lizards found a new Alpha due to his absence. He'll be sure to set them straight. "Let's go."

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav turned his head to take in the spire. He could see it but zoomed in through the macrobinoculars to take in more detail. Jagged rock came up from bubbling, stagnant water like a dark lizard's tooth. Carved into the stone he could make out a rough entrance naturally there.

He turned back to Cest but said nothing. Wren followed him, boots splashing softly through the muck now knee deep. Pistol was held in a steady right hand and knife in the left. It felt just like walking into an ambush.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

As they continue to move through the mud, Thrit notices the tall grass around them is moving ever so slightly towards them. There is not wind blowing today. Hm. These things must've gotten smarter while he was away. Thrit slowly raises his R-145 and slowly reaches for his vibroblade. As soon as he touches the hilt three Dark Lizards pop out from the mud with their mouths agape. Two coming from behind Dav one on his right and another on his left. The third one is coming out from Thrit's front. "Evade!" Thrit quickly duck out of the way, dodging the Dark Lizard's bite and rolls deep into the mud. The Dark Lizard dives in after him.

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav spun on his heel, but slowed down in the muck as he was, he only managed to get a single bolt off. It was a grazing wound across the front of right-most's maw. The lizard screamed hideously as it was momentarily stopped in it's tracks. The other one had no such problems and lunged for Wren.

Hundreds of kilos smacked into him and he was sent flying back with the dark lizard on top of him. Water and muck broke the worst of his fall but it was enough to knock the wind out of him. Durasteel could only do so much against blunt impact. A huge mouth full of teeth filled his vision from his back.

Dav acted on sheer instinct at that point as he thrust up at the face with his blade. This close, he scored a hit and buried several centimeters of durasteel into the face. The lizard reared back in agony and the human cringed at the shrill cry right in his face. The lizard yanked the knife out of his grip and Wren would've cursed if he had the time.

As it was, he brought up his pistol and fired point-blank into the face, squeezing the trigger three times. The black-armored man was sprayed with gore from the exploding head. Before he knew it, the other lizard was back for more. Dav had propped himself up on his elbow and was firing right at the ugly face with a snarl.

It kept coming in the face of the pain the prey was spraying at it. It roared with indignant rage and it heard the prey do the same as if answering a challenge...

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Thrit comes up from the mud with a Dark Lizard hoisted above his arm. The lizard is still trying to snap at him. Thrit quickly takes a grenade and throws it at one of the Dark Lizards attacking Dav. "Dive!" Thrit is re-submerged into the mud with the Dark Lizard.

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav threw himself back down in the water and muck as Thrit chucked a thermal detonator. Water and mud cascaded everywhere as the explosive went off. The majority of the shock wave hit the lizard and the shrapnel gutted it. But some of it hit Dav and left him stunned and his ears ringing.

He found himself crab-walking, slipping and sliding back. It was the reaction of someone bred to fight. Someone trained to survive in situations just like these ones. For the moment Thrit's problem was the furthest thing from his mind.

@Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Thrit is being drowned beneath the mud, trying to keep the Dark Lizard ontop of him from trying to swallow him whole. It's mass is pinning Thrit down to the swamp floor. His gear is already getting ruined and now he might get squashed beneath this thing. Thrit then sees that the Dark Lizard is gaining more maneuverability. He takes out his vibrosword as quickly as he can and begins to blindly stab the Dark Lizard in it's stomach repeatedly. Blood soon begins to encompass the mud.

 

[Dav Wren]

Dav's vision had cleared enough to make out what was going on. The giant lizard was pinning Thrit down, trying to get it's mouth around him. He scrambled over and threw himself on the reptile's back. He began to stab with an icepick grip.

More blood decorated the muddy water now and Wren didn't realize exactly how loud he was yelling. Adrenaline, instinct and training were all in high gear. Cest had saved his shebs and he was returning the favor.

@Kameron Esters-