Solitary Hunter (open)

[Anonymous]

Dusk was falling.  It was not a good time to be out in the waste, as many of the more vicious hunters were nocturnal.  This one was no different.  The chance to surprise prey was too good to pass up.  He'd been seen once by a human, but that human had made the very poor choice of pulling a weapon on the creature that now stalked the waste.  It had been then that he found that human wasn't really a good food, but it was better than nothing.  He looked around for a moment, wondering why that giant... odd barrier was there.  What purpose did it serve, aside from annoying him?  He never would have guessed that Aedolis, a massive area of human lands, lay behind that shield.

He shook his head.  He needed to focus on food, or he'd have to probably wait a whole day for food.  His black wings held close to his form as his wolven foot-paws padded almost silently on the ground.  Gray eyes scanned the area.  He paused as he saw an animal.  Unsure of what exactly it was, but he was more than ready to fight.  He waited patiently for his chance.  He wouldn't rush himself.  He knew that he would need to get this kill.

There.  It had turned, giving the predator his chance.  He rushed forwards, claws unsheathing themselves in a bloody mess from his fingertips as he leaped a distance that most humans would find impossible.  He landed on the animal, and a rather brief, but extremely bloody battle ensued.  The prey was finally put down by several psionic blasts emanating from the predator combined with three-inch claws digging into its flesh.  The thing had barely hit the ground before the predator began to feed hungrily, taking no chance in case a larger creature came along, wanting this kill.  Claw and fang dug into the gut and flesh, tearing off chunks that were readily eaten, despite their taint.

He paused a moment to survey the surroundings a moment before resuming his eating.

[Anonymous]

Dusk indeed fell, as it usually does when night approaches.  Like a cat's whiskers are followed by the cat, itself.  Not that what followed this odd predator's activities carried any more feline in it than the night, but... well, the point is made.  Not a large thing followed, no, just a small thing.  Metalic, like a cluster of legs and eyes, presently stationary, folded up to the size of a golfball.  Watching this odd, humanoidish predator as it... as he fed.  But this little, metalic thing really didn't matter, since it existed only to serve its master, a creature even more odd than the one presently feeding on... on something else odd, yet dead.  Call had been sent out, from servant to master, and master was coming.  Not swiftly, no, but already close.  This odd predator under observation was different from the other creatures here, and master had been called for purely curiousity's sake.........

Yes, Rotor found this wasteland a very curious place, with food that tasted surprisingly like Home, an environment that stimulated his adaptimorphic physiology, and an atmosphere that carried a wealth of scent and flavor.  So many places he'd passed through... so many Layers... yet, so rarely had he encountered worlds able to stimulate his body and senses!  Strange, how he'd already met familiar faces in such an unfamiliar place, so shortly after arriving.  This new "face"... was neither friend nor someone he'd ever met before.  Reason enough to answer his servant's call.  Reason enough to investigate, if only to familiarize himself with another predator....

Him...

... Rotor only claimed that gender for the convenience of others.  Shesh did possess two genders, neither classifiable as male or female, not in any conventional sense.  Adaptability demanded flexibility in reproduction, just as it did in all physiological aspects of Sheshan technobiology.  Not shapeshifers, adaptimorphs, designed for an omnivero-predatory lifestyle.  Rotor, himself, one with a rare adaptive mutation... gift of Hrar'ra'rah.  A healer of mind, body and soul.  Great in power, as all Shesh.  Yet calm of heart and warm of spirit.  Power, controlled.

Power, on the move....

Rotor's spider dart remained curled and observant, even as he approached in full stealth.  Chromatic hide perfectly blended into his environment.  Scent wiped, breath held, steps so light they left no prints behind, and made not a sound.  Even thermally, he remained concealed in plain sight, nictating membranes and temporary shields cloaking all five eyes, but allowing him to see.  Other senses, fully active, as well.  Icon Lock streaming data on this new creature...

... who seemed rather hungry.

Food and hunger didn't occupy Rotor's personal thoughts, however.  He'd found plenty to eat, given he could eat anything this waste could provide, living prey to poisoned rocks.  Fragile flesh to hard alloys.  Tasted different, but digested the same.  

So, in consideration, Rotor simply observed this creature's feeding, along with his still and silent metalic servant.........

[Anonymous]

He hadn't noticed the observer watching him as he had subdued and killed his prey.  His business at the time was consuminig what he could of this prey, preferably before any larger predator showed up.  More than a few times, he'd been interrupted and forced to flee when a larger predator decided that it would take the kill that he had gotten.  He was completely unaware of the... thing that had taken an interest in him.  This, perhaps, was good, because had Rotor been present, the predator might have gotten defensive.  As it was, though, he ate without hesitation.  Despite being only the size of a young adult human, he seemed quite able to eat more than he should have been capable of.  Then again, it wasn't surprising, considering that most everything out in the waste was abnormal.

Something brought him out of his ravenous hunger as he paused a moment.  A spark of mental energy went out, not any form of attack, but it seemed to be a broadcast.  Anything capable of receiving or understanding telepathy in any form would receive a feeling from him, a simple confused feeling.  He was acting as his instinct told him to act, and in truth, he had a faint thought that it would be better if he didn't get any responses, though this was not broadcast out as well.  It seemed that some mental facility in his mind determined it necessary to check for other beings nearby.

[Anonymous]

This predator's mind.........

Of course, Rotor didn't miss this "broadcast".  Icon Lock realigned, data flow shifted, communication between head-brain and shoulder-brain exchanged stimuli.  Yet, the only outside change was a tilt of his head, a blink of eyes.  A silent exhale and inhale, to take in scent.  However, Rotor had no need to act on instinct, though his body did adapt and react based on certain common functional patterns.  Programming, if you will, though Shesh were far, far more than animal or machine.  Instinct... programming... truly inadequate terms for a thing always in flux.  Rotor had learned to adapt to things outside of his natal Layer only due to the constant adaptive flux in his techno-organic biology.  One of the reasons the Nith had chosen to use his species as interdimensional probes.  One of... one of the reasons he observed this predator in this place, when he should be Home with family and friends.  Home with his mate, Afa, raising a new generation... raising.........

Even in his na state, his last rut just a vivid memory, he couldn't long keep his thoughts away from her.  Yes, he had the Key, he had the way Home now, but the journey still wasn't over, and he still missed her... missed everything... terribly.  Loneliness.  A simple confused feeling, part of the data flow.  No, the loneliness was all his, the confusion only in the mental broadcast this new predator had made.  But Rotor was alone.  This predator was alone.

Obviously, different reasons prevailed in their mutual isolation from members of their own species... to be short, Rotor belonged elsewhere, while this new predator belonged here.  Other differences, yes, but Rotor couldn't help feeling this commonality.  If anything, Rotor tended to have a philisophical bent, his senses capturing so much information in his travels, he'd learned to see through many different eyes.  But he'd also learned other important things...

... so, he did nothing else to disturb this commrad of aloneness, waited till predator had fill of prey, then...

... called his servant.

Not with voice.  Not with psyonic talents, but with the "radio" in his head.  That part of his shoulder-brain linked to his servent, like an invisible wire, but not.  Encoded.  Encrypted.  Secure from even the most invasive sensor network.  Silent, unmoving golfball unfolded into a mess of active legs and sensors, tapped into the same spark of mental energy, and sent a simple "Hi" out, along with a click of two metal legs tapped against each other, as it moved between predator and master.........

[Anonymous]

The relative silence of the mental world around the hunter was silent as he went back to his meal.  He was reassured, continuing to eat voraciously without any form of distraction.  Perhaps it was good that Rotor left the predator to his solitary self, well, for a time anyhow.  He finished most of what he'd usually consume, and as he straightened, a single word flashed into his mind.  Eyes widened, and an immediate snarl emitted from him.  His mental broadcasting came back, and this time it was a mix of defensiveness, mixed with a hint of fear.  He wasn't able to quite mask his thoughts, or feelings as they would probably be described at this point.  Almost immediately, claws emerged from his fingertips, covered in blood, readied in case there was another predator.  His eyes glanced around as he began to seek the source of the other voice.  A mental voice... he'd rarely heard them, and often they came form those creatures that looked a lot like him.  With any luck, it wouldn't have one of those strange weapons.  Within his body lay part of a weapon that had made a loud noise and caused a good deal of pain.  He would make sure he wouldn't be struck again.

[Anonymous]

Apparently, this other predator hadn't heard the click of two metal legs tapped against each other, nor had he seen the movement of darkened metal against the darkened ground.  So, the spider dart lit itself up, sensors aglow, to be more clearly seen.  Then, again, that tap of metal leg against metal leg, like a clearing of throat.  Perhaps funny, in a strange if not ha-ha way, given the other predator's snarled growl and bloody claw-extention.  But, the spider dart served its master.  And its master was not afraid.   However...

...  "No reason for fear..."  Sent on that same mental frequency...  "No harm will come.  No food will be taken, unless offered."

A flex and wave of legs as it moved back a few paces, an impression of curious inquiry...

...  "Has your hunting been good?"


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
((ooc))  Sorry about the wait...   :shock:   ((ooc))

[Anonymous]

(('tis okay!  I'm a relatively patient person.  Usually :3 ))

Part of the reason that the predator hadn't noticed the small metal object was partly due to its size.  He'd been looking for something larger at first, another, possibly larger or more imposing predator.  He started slightly as a small thing on the ground lit up, but he made no move to strike, attack, harass, or otherwise antagonize the little critter... thing.  He did, however, look quite curious.

And it spoke again, this time longer, the language sent through the mental frequency seeming somewhat understood by the predator.  Muscles relaxed a bit, and the claws retreated into his fingers, the bleeding wounds that remained closing up rather quickly.

Again, it spoke, and this time, a small smile came to him.  "Yes."  Came the simple response.  He approached the small metal thing, pausing a  distance from it, inspecting it as best he could.  His tail whipped about absently.  Something then seemed to come to his mind, something said only moments before.  He faintly gestured to the prey he'd just finished with.  "Done."  He stated simply.  He then leaned forwards a little, hoping to see the small shiny thing a bit better.  He already liked it, partly because it wasn't trying to kill him, partly because it spoke, and mostly because it was shiny.

[Anonymous]

Something larger.........

Without a sound, Rotor stretched out onto his belly in a non-threatening pose.  No sight, no scent, no breath, no hint of movement evident in the air or on the ground, full stealth still operative.  Like the Cheshire cat, without even a grin on show.  Though, truth be told, Rotor did grin, behind his "cover".  A bit of his old self shown through, while he watched this other predator's reaction to the spider dart.  Rotor understood shiny.........

Again, servent relayed its master's message...

...  "Rest... relax... talk?"

The spider dart waved legs, circled around and settled in example, even though its array of legs made it hard to know which end was "face" and which end was, well, its "end".  Impossible to tell, really.  But...

... a change.

A breath heard through ears and a voice... two voices, in chorus... heard through the link, from a point behind the now reposed metal "shiny"...

...  "*Good to hear....*"

A sense of calm content came with the mental words.  And something else.  A ripple in the air... section by section, that Cheshire cat image so apt, a ghostly swirl.  Shadows.  Scent.  Movement.  Lean form... black, gray silver, white... hide melting into gold and copper shades as ghostly bands and stripes solidified from end of snout to tip of tail...

... Rotor, visible in all his relaxed and stretched out glory.  So to speak.........

[Anonymous]

Shiny.  Not too much outside was shiny, well, at least, not as shiny as this little spidery thing.  The predator was very interested in it, as he was on all fours, curious gaze no more than a few feet from the small thing.  His tail swished about absently, and wings were tightly held against his back, mostly because he felt he'd scare it if his wings randomly flared out as they usually did.  Now this was an interesting thing for him, as he was so used to intimidating things he saw, or at least hunting and trying to kill it, that bits and pieces of his own confusion slipped into his mental transmission.  A slightly bigger smile as it asked to relax and interact.  Talking wasn't something he was used to, as his body hadn't trained itself to speak physically.

The little display of circling around and settling down was entertaining, and he simply nodded, and crouched down, seeming to relax a little.  His ear twitched faintly.  A new voice?  Two voices?  What?  But... so calm.  He glanced around, and slowly, something else became visible.  He took a few steps back rather suddenly.  Of course, the first thing he thought was that it was one of the things he'd feared, another predator.  He clenched his hands tightly a moment, barely keeping himself from showing his claws again.

It took a few moments for him to notice, finally, the position that the other being had put itself.  There was a moment of hesitation, before he took a step forwards again and returned to his crouching position.  An interesting thing, but at least it didn't seem to be aggressive.  "...How?"  Came his mental voice, laden with confusion.  He then paused, and scratched at the ground a little with his fingers.  He was curious to know about this other being.  It was so... interesting. "What?"  He also asked, the question able to be interpreted in a few ways.  He wanted to know what Rotor was, but he probably wouldn't understand.