Chapter Text
“Please do not send me away Hunter, I can be a warrior,” Omega pleaded as she tracked him through the Kamino forests.
“I will hear no more of this,” he said as he continued his brisk pace. Omega did her best to keep up, she suspected the unrelenting tempo of his was a test of some sort. As if to say, if you complain about this, you really do not belong here. So she just sucked it up and tried not to cry out every time she tripped over a branch.
“You’re not as scary as you think you are,” she huffed, which Omega knew he could hear as clear as if she had screamed it in his ear.
“I mean I grew up here, what do I know of the man-village Saleucami?” she challenged.
“It’s your own kind and you’ll be much safer there,” Hunter jumped down a particularly large rock and held out his hand to help her down. Omega eyed the appendage and regarded his expression. There was no challenge there, still she felt like she had something to prove and jumped down on her own. She thought she landed as he had done, but the infuriating smirk and crossed arms told her otherwise.
She had heard it all before, you’re not of our kind, the jungle is a dangerous place, you could get hurt, we cannot protect you all the time … Which Omega could agree with, if not these arguments were conjured out of nowhere a few months ago. Omega could not see how, now at fourteen she would suddenly be unfit for the jungle she grew up in. But everyone was happy to let her stay when she was a toddler.
It was actually Hunter who found her abandoned in the forest and broke every Kaminoan law bringing her home. He even fought the elders tooth and nail to keep her. For all intents and purposes he was her brother. He had taught her survival skills, how to wield a knife, every single safety procedure had been drilled into her by the time she was four. But he was incredibly sweet and also the one person she would run to whenever she was angry, scared or upset.
It is because she knew in her heart, with as much certainty that each day the sun would rise, Hunter loved her. And something was terribly wrong for him to send her off like this. Therefor she would follow along with his plan for now. But she was going to find out what had him so spooked.
She regarded his broad back as he barreled his way through the jungle, she’d never known Hunter to run away from anything. Honestly, it terrified her a little. Because whatever it was, he was under the presumption that there would be nothing he could do to stop it.
They tracked a while longer until Omega could no longer feel her feet and they had gone further away from home than she ever had before. The night had come, and while she knew it wouldn’t hinder him none due to his night vision, Omega had no such advantages. After the third tree she collided with Hunter decided to call it a night.
He looked around and found a suitable tree. Hunter, due to his sensitive senses did not feel safe sleeping on the ground. If he were to be vulnerable and turn off said senses for the night, he was going to seek out the highest, most difficult to reach spot available.
The tree was so high it was clearly silhouetted by the moon above the canopy. Trees in the jungle tended to grow straight up and then branch out to catch the maximum amount of sunlight. They really weren’t designed to be easy to climb … which was kind of the point. But after an all day hike, Omega really didn’t feel like scaling up a giant tree.
Hunter noticed her hesitation and without asking slung her on his back. Her hands snaked around his neck and she clung onto him like an infant spider monkey as he made his way up the tree. Hunter had never been the hugging type, so Omega enjoyed having him so close. His long braided hair tickled her cheek as it whisped by and she would have liked it more if he’d have washed it more often.
Perhaps it was the exhaustion, the closeness or the fact that she wouldn’t be returning here. She didn’t know if she’d ever get the chance to hug Hunter again, if she couldn’t convince him to let her stay, she would lose him forever. And that was more frightening to her than any dangerous monster coming after her in the dark of the night.
Hunter heaved them on a broad overhanging branch and he patted her hands in a signal it was ok to let go. She scurried back turned away from him. She got rid of the evidence trailing down her cheeks. If she was going to prove to him that she though enough to survive she couldn’t show any such weaknesses.
“Omega, this is difficult for me as well,” Hunter said.
“Oh, really?” she snapped, “because from where I am sitting, cutting me lose was an easy decision for you.”
Hunter sighed and jumped to a lower branch so he could lean against the trunk as well, “please trust me,” he pleaded.
Omega knew she was being unreasonably angry, the exhaustion, pain and abandonment issues fueled the rage, which was one emotion she had no problem showing.
“You’re the one with the secrets,” she bit, but felt guilty when she heard his sigh, “perhaps, it would be easier for me to deal with if I knew what was going on,” she tried.
“Go to sleep Omega, we have a long day tomorrow,” Hunter pulled up his knee and clutched his dagger. She had seen him sleep like this many times.
“Fine, be that way,” she crossed her arms in a huff. As she looked over the forest she noticed the stark outline of the Kaminoan cliffs. The little ones would be asleep now. It was a cloudless night and under different circumstances she would appreciate the beautiful star-filled sky.
Now she only longed for her den. Hunter had the talent to fall asleep on command, especially if it meant avoiding awkward conversations. His snores traveled up from where he had made his perch on the branch below her.
Omega was tired, but she was too sad to sleep. This would probably be the last sight of her village. A star flitted across the sky.
‘Please let me stay in the jungle,’ she prayed, ‘I don’t want to leave.’
The warm summer wind whirled around her and she send her prayer along with it. She hoped it would stretch out and reach someone who would be willing to help her. The jungle was never quiet, but for a second everything seemed to stop. Omega looked around, despite the lingering heat goosebumps appeared on her bare arms.
“Poor girl,” a voice called out to her from the dark, Omega sat up. Hunter was still asleep. If something had climbed up he would have noticed.
Omega settled back down and tried to get comfortable, she must have imagined it. There were some vines wrapped around the trunk that made settling in difficult.
“Don’t worry, I know a way you can stay,” again the sultry voice spoke. This time Omega was sure she hadn’t imagined it.
“I can help you” the voice promised before Omega could reach down for Hunter.
She became aware of two stars burning bright in the night sky. They traveled in pair and Omega was mesmerized. She knew people wished upon stars, perhaps this was how wishes were received?
“You can?” she whispered.
“Ssshht,” the voice hushed and Omega felt her eyes drop, the vines around the tree seemed to encompass her, transforming the once uncomfortable branch into the most cozy bed she had ever laid upon.
“Don’t worry, I know what you want,” the tree warped and the vines hugged around her, “I know what you desire,” Omega blinked and her neck struggled to keep her head elevated as she fought to stay awake. She wanted to know the solution to her problem, she wanted so bad to have her wish fulfilled, she wanted to stay. “You can trust in me.”
When she looked up, Omega realized the two stars were not stars at all but the gleaming eyes of a huge, hungry python. It was almost translucent against the night sky, it’s patterns blended effortlessly with the leaves. Only those eyes were too brilliant to blend into anything.
A pang of fear rang through her, but her voice got stuck in her throat. She tried to free herself, but her limbs refused to move. When she looked down she saw the body of the snake had wrapped itself around her in the most terrible embrace. The moment she became aware of her predicament and tried to squirm the muscles bulled uncomfortably tight and squeezed the air out of her lungs.
“Ssssht,” the snake smirked and Omega got lost in those eyes again, “I’ll make sure you never have to leave the jungle.”
The snake’s body coiled around her with enough force to lift her from the branch. It whirled and whirled, trapping her arms and coiling up to her throat. The body was impossibly long, never in her life had Omega encountered any animal this size. Her breath got stuck, only her legs were free but her toes only barely scraped against the branch.
She gulped but no air entered her body. The python angled her body so her back was parallel with the ground and Omega had the most terrifying view of the heavens. Tears sprung from her eyes, she was so afraid.
“Just trussst in me.” Omega could heard the hiss as the snake unhinged its jaw. But this broke the hypnotic gaze and with it the trance.
In her terror Omega managed to release a soft “Hunter, help”
Before her vision was blacked out by either unconsciousness or the gullet, a blur tackled the predator. With a growl Hunter plunged his knife through its head. The snake gave one last squeeze in its death throw before releasing Omega from the suffocating hug. She was slammed down against the branch and if any breath had been left in her lungs it would have been knocked out.
She was still buried beneath the snake’s body though. Though limp, it continued to smother her with its weight. But at least Omega was free to move. She managed to wring her hand through the coils and it was caught in Hunter’s secure grip. With one heave he pulled her free of the limp body, which he kicked out of the tree with a vicious snarl. Finally free to breathe, Omega coughed and wheezed, everything hurt.
Hunter caught her around the shoulders before she could fall down in her panic for air. His eyes were wild and he was saying something but there was too much blood rushing through her ears to hear him. She stood there a while, just taking in all the oxygen she could.
His hands were warm as they traveled from her shoulder, carefully over her bruised neck and cradled her cheek, where his thumbs stroked away the tears streaming down her face.
“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” he asked, Hunter seemed unsure on how to proceed. Omega made the decision for him and reached out for a hug.
She cried out in his neck. The arms holding her close were a kinder, warmer embrace.
“It’s ok,” he said, “I got you.”
Yes, but for how long? She thought, but did not want to ruin the moment.
He settled them against the trunk and maneuvered Omega on his lap, he rubbed her back until her breathing evened out. She slept with a death grip on his shirt.
The next morning Hunter climbed down and did a quick perimeter search before he flagged Omega down. Omega felt annoyed about last night’s events. She had set out to prove she could take care of herself, but in the end she seemed even more helpless.
She got down without the help of Hunter’s outstretched hand and dusted off her knees after her hard landing. Down in the shrubbery there was no evidence of last night’s battle. The snake had been enormous, it’s body couldn’t have disappeared without a trace.
“It wasn’t an animal,” Hunter explained when he noticed her expression.
“It wasn’t?” Omega turned around, but she couldn’t even spot a single scale.
“Fennec is an ancient spirit, as old as the forest,”
“A spirit?” Omega didn’t know if she felt more or less afraid after this reveal, “we didn’t disturb anything, why did it attack me?”
“Who knows, Fennec is rarely seen and always unpredictable. But she only dwells inside the forest so you should be safe after tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes, if we make enough time today. Follow close.” Hunter took off leaving a bewildered Omega behind.
If she had been braver she would have made a statement and stayed put, or better yet turn another direction and try to escape. But the only place she felt safe was marching through the forest at a breakneck pace and Omega couldn’t help but follow. Even if their destination would be hell for her.
“Hunter wait!” she followed, but at her own pace this time. If she wasn’t convincing him she could take care of herself, she could at least delay the inevitable.
Omega had to take a break, two days hiking at this pace was bad enough, but her encounter with Fennec still had her ribs complaining with every breath she took. Hunter offered to carry her but she declined every offer he made.
Hunter was in a horrible mood, while he wasn’t the most talkative person to begin with he was down right grumpy and stoic now. Omega couldn’t find it in her to care. Let him be upset.
“Hunter, I need to take a break!” she wheezed and settled down next to the stream he already was halfway across.
“No time Omega, let’s keep going,” he paused mid-stream.
“No, please just a few minutes,” Omega complained and leaned down to take a sip of water. Hunter let out a growl and took hold of her elbow.
“No stalling Omega, you’re going and that’s that!” he yelled.
Hunter, never yelled at her. In her fright she pulled free and gave him a kick to scurry away. This caused him to lose balance in the riverbed and his head dunked under momentarily.
He crawled to shore on the other side of the river and he took a second to calm his temper … which he failed at.
“Fine, be that way,” he yelled, he shook out his soaked attire, making his hair flop around, “I’ll scout ahead. Stay here!”
Omega was ready to cry now, she pulled up her legs and made herself as small as possible. The boulder she leaned against was cold and uncomfortable, but it matched her mood so she didn’t care. She hated fighting with Hunter, but she hated leaving him more. Omega rested her head on her knees and let out a pitiful sob … what was she going to do?
Hunter took his time scouting, perhaps he found something that worried him.
The sun was high in the sky and the air was thick with moisture … the rainy season would be upon them soon.
Omega sat up, ears on alert. Something large crashed through the underbrush behind her, loud enough that Omega picked it up without Hunter’s sensitive hearing.
“Hunter?” she breathed, though Hunter was always stealthy … annoyingly so. She braced herself for a predator, Fennec … the mysterious monster perhaps. But out of the bush emerged a huge warrior of the bear clan. He strolled through the forest like he owned it, as if it didn’t even occur to him to be afraid or silent.
Omega kept quiet but he did an almost comedian double take when he did notice her.
“What do we have here?” he smiled and crouched down.
Omega wasn’t in the mood to be coddled or humiliated.
“Leave me alone,” she said and pulled her legs closer to her chest.
“Why? You’re obviously sad, come on little one. My name is Wrecker, what is yours?” he asked and shuffled closer. The man had no sense of personal boundaries and reached out to touch her.
Before he could Omega lashed out and punched him in the nose, she then scurried back and held her ground. She had done everything as Hunter had told her to do, but still her hand seemed to have taken more damage than his nose.
Omega expected anger or disappointment at least. Instead, the man … Wrecker, laughed and jumped up.
“Oh, I like you,” he boasted and balled his hands into fists, “Come on then, tiny, show me what you’ve got!”
Omega was not used to this enthusiasm and positivity, she wiped her nose on her sleeve and scuttled closer. She fell back into the stance Hunter taught her and the move made a surprised grin spread across Wrecker’s face.
He pushed her back the first two times she tried to attack, she was surprised at the strength he used on her. Omega was used to Hunter’s kitty gloves even during combat training. But she liked that Wrecker was less inclined to take it easy on her.
The last few tears disappeared and she poured the remainder of her rage and fear into a barrage she let lose on Wrecker. Wrecker laughed and smiled and taunted her through the assault, he was having the time of his life. Of course she wasn’t a real opponent, she hardly reached his chest even when she jumped.
“Now roar!” he yelled and she followed his advice without question. From her little body tore a feral cry that held all the frustration she felt.
“Is that all?” Wrecker taunted and let out a yell himself, Omega inched back at the wild ferocity that it contained. But it was negated immediately by the smile that reached from ear to ear. “It has to come up from your toes,” he explained.
Omega was impressed and tried to match him, but lacked a couple of kilo’s and years to reach that kind of register. She tried though and was out of breath by the time she was finished.
She heaved and panted, but felt so much lighter than she had moments before. Wrecker gave her an approving look, as if this had been his plan all along. She send him a grateful smile and was about to introduce herself when a slow clap rang through the clearing.
“Good job announcing our presence to the entire jungle,” Hunter mocked and jumped down from the branch he had been prowling on.
“I thought you might be around, this one yours?” Wrecker asked and ruffled through Omega’s hair, “What do they call you?”
Before Omega could answer, “Omega,” Hunter interjected and put himself between herself and Wrecker, “I’m taking her to Saleucami.”
“What? The man village?” Wrecker sounded astonished, Omega finally found someone with common sense, “They’ll ruin her!”
“I don’t want to go, he’s making me,” Omega said and received a mean, betrayed look from Hunter for her troubles.
“Is he now?” The bear warrior frowned, “You could come with me kid, if you want,” Wrecker offered.
Hunter sighed, “She’ll never survive.”
Omega was getting pretty sick and tired of Hunter’s attitude and walked over to Wrecker. Wrecker had the smuggest expression on his face and crossed his arms as if to dare Hunter to try and disagree with this turn of events.
“Fine,” To her surprise Hunter looked instantly defeated, turned tail and vanished into the forest.
“Want me to show you how to survive kid?” Wrecker had the most eager expression on his face.
“Yes, show me the bear necessities!” she smiled to which Wrecker broke down in laughter.
Wrecker was great, he wasn’t nearly as graceful as Hunter but everything he did, he did with vigor and with a 100% conviction. If she had known he was out here wandering all alone she would have taken off in search of him years ago.
While Hunter’s specialty was tracking and hunting, Wrecker’s specialty was gathering and well … wrecking things. She seen him lift a boulder clear above his head, just so he could reach the grubs beneath it.
More than anything, Wrecker was a force of nature … she couldn’t imagine anything getting past him. Until a couple of days after their initial meeting, they decided to go for a swim.
All was quiet, except for the little Todo monkeys flitting about in the canopy. Hunter never really liked them and chose to avoid them whenever he could, but Wrecker didn’t seem to mind them.
Though she should have heeded Hunter’s warnings about their mischievous nature more dearly. Because when Wrecker was occupied with obtaining altitude to make the biggest splash, a couple of them reached down and nicked Omega right out of the water.
The monkeys, while small, had powerful arms and swung her around without any trouble at all.
“Wrecker!” she yelled when she went sailing through the air. Her stomach did a summersault and nearly jumped into her throat as another monkey barely caught her.
They swung her around by her ankles, wrists, arms … anything they could grab, until Omega had no idea which way was up or down.
“Wrecker!” she yelled again, but even if he could respond the wind rushed too hard through her ears she wouldn’t be able to make it out anyways.
Omega had to close her eyes to keep her sanity and hoped the monkeys wouldn’t drop her off a cliff. She didn’t think they would eat her, she had only seen them eat fruits … but that didn’t mean she wasn’t in any danger.
The world calmed down and she felt the security of ground beneath her once again. She tried to open her eyes but the world kept turning and she flopped down on her knees.
After a couple of minutes recuperating she gathered her wits once again. She had been dropped in the middle of the ruins, Omega realized. This wasn’t good, the ruins were forbidden. She looked around for a way out but every exit was blocked by curious Todo monkeys and Omega doubted they would let her pass.
She took a few more turns before saw a throne, fruits of all sorts were gathered around it and upon it sat the ugliest monkey she had ever seen. It had blue skin with piercing, mean red eyes. The stare petrified her in place.
“So you’re what all the fuss is about, Cad Bane pleasure to meet you little lady.”
His words were kind, but Omega couldn’t shake the menacing vibe he eluted. She rubbed at her arms which were black and blue from her journey.
“Omega,” she said, because he expected her to say something.
“Oh, I know who you are little lady,” she leaned forward on his throne and Omega took a step back.
“Can I ask, why am I here sir?” she stammered.
Cad Bane squinted his eyes at her and got up, sized her up and Omega had never felt so vulnerable or uncomfortable.
“I appreciate the manners, I did not expect that from a man-child,” he said.
Red rushed to her cheeks, Omega hated the term with a passion. In her tribe it was only uttered as the highest insult and more than once had been the cause for Hunter to set some bullies straight.
“You don’t like that term hm, little lady?” Cad Bane observed. Omega focused on her anger, it was a better alternative than the fear she found. “I hear you don’t want to flee the jungle.”
“I don’t,” Omega said with a puffed out chest.
“You’re either incredibly stupid or you have something up your sleeve,” he eyed her again with that searching gaze, “and you don’t strike me as stupid.”
Omega did not know what he was angling for, but she did not want to disappoint this guy. “Why don’t you tell me, why I am here sir.”
He made a motion and suddenly all Todo monkeys disappeared. Some ran her over in their haste to flee the chamber. They were as frightened by him as she was, poor things, Omega thought.
Omega eyed the open window, but then noticed Cad Bane’s intense gaze was still focused on her, so she kept her feet rooted firmly in place.
The silence seemed to echo forever and Omega started to get nervous. Was there something he expected her to do?
“Your people are both feared and revered throughout the jungle,” he said. Omega had to disagree with that statement, man-folk were despised by her tribe, more than any creature that dwelled in the jungle.
“I want what makes them great, I want to inflict that fear, I want to be the undisputed ruler,” he spread his arms to the empty stage.
Omega could hardly imagine anything more frightening than him, and she had almost been strangled by a giant snake not a week ago. Still Omega missed what he was angling for. Human-knowledge was something that she severely lacked. She had been born in the jungle and was as much part of it as anything else.
“I want their fire-power,” Cad Bane explained and looked like he expected her to produce it on the spot.
“You want fire?” Omega tried, she could make a fire. Hunter had shown how since she had been tall enough to walk around.
This was the wrong thing to say, Cad Bane struck out at her in his fury and Omega barely managed to dodge his surprise fist. She sprawled on the floor with him looming over her.
“Don’t take me for a fool, man-child,” his eyes were burning red, “I want fire power, the guns. Only man have weapons that make them the equal of any creature in the jungle. Even the monster hunting you.” He said ominously and Omega gulped nervously for air.
“I … I don’t know,” she admitted. She expected him to strike at her again, instead he whistled. Four Todo monkeys grabbed her by the arms and legs and carried her off. She struggled for all she was worth but their grip was relentless.
“No!” she cried and struggled. In her panic she got knocked around against the floor and walls of the ruins. She feared they would fling her from the cliff the ancient castle was built upon. Instead they towed her down endless steps and threw her in a dark pit at the bottom.
She landed with a oompf, but the ground was soft and moist enough, the landing wasn’t too harsh.
“Perhaps, you’ll be more inclined to share after a few nights down there,” all Omega could see were Cad’s red eyes peering at her from the darkness above.
“Please no, I swear I don’t know!” she pleaded but it fell on deaf ears. It was so dark she couldn’t even see whether someone was watching her or not.
While the soft soil at the bottom of the pit had prevented any further injury to her already aching body, it was so cold and moist it sucked all warmth and hope out of her instantly.
“Let me out!” she cried and tried to climb up, but her efforts were in vain. She didn’t have Hunter’s agility, nor Wrecker’s raw strength to free herself. The few roots that stuck out from the side of the pit were too fragile and broke as soon as she pulled at them with the slightest force. So after scratching her fingertips raw she sat down and sobbed.
All strength was sapped out of her. What a pitiful figure she must make, muddy and alone in a hole somewhere in the jungle. Hours and hours passed and Omega contemplated on he course of action for when they’d haul her out.
She had to take a run for it, she didn’t even have an inkling about the kind of weapon Cad Bane was describing. She wasn’t born with that information, like a spider was born with the knowledge on how to make its web. She hadn’t even seen a fire arm before.
The fear about the monster crept into her mind, if even a demon like Cad Bane sought such extreme protection from it … what chance did she have against it? Perhaps Hunter had been correct in his eagerness to cart her off. In any case, she wasn’t doing a good job proving she could take care of herself.
Omega must have dozed off at some point because the next thing she knew she was startled awake by screaming. The ground shook beneath her feet and the rumbling shook her to her core. The Todo monkeys were wailing in utter chaos. Omega sank against the wall of the pit and tried to make herself as small as possible.
Was it the monster? Did it finally come for her? Omega’s heart pounded heavy in her chest.
A large figure loomed over the pit.
“Omega is that you?”
“Wrecker!” she let out a breath of relief, Wrecker was so tall he could reach down and all she had to do was jump up and let his huge hand lift her from the darkness.
“There you are, good to have you back kid,” he lifted her high above his head and observed her for a second. Then he placed her carefully on her feet and hugged her.
He was impossibly warm and Omega clutched him close, he didn’t seem to mind her muddy state. Then he let her go and looked at something over her shoulder.
Only now did she notice Hunter’s presence.
“Are you ok, Omega? Are you hurt?” he asked, she staggered over to him and he caught her in a hug as well.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I’m sorry.”
The ground shook again and part of the sealing crashed down. Omega squeaked, but Hunter already had her secured no rumble got close to her.
“Let’s get out of here,” Wrecker boomed. Hunter carried her out of the ruins, while Wrecker had fun yeeting monkeys around while the ruins collapsed around them.
“Hold on!” Hunter warned moments before he leaped from the cliff, Omega screamed as she clutched at his neck. But they landed safely in the water below, just in time for the entire ancient palace to collapse behind them.
“Good,” Omega thought, “I never want to see that place ever again.”
“Wrecking ball!” Wrecker called before finally achieving the big splash he had been aiming for.
Hunter had yet to let her go as they swam to shore, for which she was grateful. She didn’t know if her tired arms could deal with swimming yet. Hunter sat her down on a fallen tree log near the shore and gave her a once over.
The water had washed away all the grime and dirt she accumulated in the pit, but revealed the cuts and bruises Omega had obtained during her adventure with the monkeys.
“Omega,” Hunter breathed as his hands hovered over her arms. He had this pained look in his eyes. She wanted to brush it off and say it was nothing, but Omega really didn’t want to lie to him and she had no more energy left for posturing. She just wanted to go home.
Wrecker took a knee next to Hunter and observed the many cuts and bruises displayed on her arms. His voice was warm and calm as he suggested “Let’s find a safe place for some shut eye.”
Hunter was shaken from his trance by the hand Wrecker clasped on his shoulder. Hunter nodded and motioned for Omega to stand up. He leaned down and picked her up like he had done before and Omega could not image a safer place than right here.
The slow pace and warm arms were enough to lull her to sleep, to which she relented instantly.
They huddled Omega in a small makeshift bed and she fell asleep the second her head touched down. Wrecker took off his large bear hide vest and wrapped it around her.
“Poor kid,” Wrecker cooed as he thumbed the hair out of her face.
“This is what I was trying to avoid,” Hunter sighed, Wrecker noticed the large bags underneath his eyes and the hollowness to his cheeks.
“You still really want to dump the kid at the village?” Wrecker asked, “I thought you wouldn’t want to lose sight of her after this.”
“She’ll be safer off there,” Hunter argued and waved at her arms, “The jungle is too dangerous.”
“The jungle has always been dangerous,” Wrecker said and crossed his arms, “You can’t lie to me, spill.”
Hunter sighed and checked, but both breathing and heartbeat signaled that Omega was vast asleep. “Crosshair’s back,” Hunter whispered as if the words itself could conjure him.
“What?” Wrecker was on his feet immediately.
“You know how he feels about all humans, he’ll hunt her down if he hears she’s still in the jungle,” Hunter explained.
Wrecker had to sit down and process this information. As powerful as he was, even he couldn’t hope to match Crosshair. His hatred for humans was legendary, as was his skill in combat and smarts. Wrecker knew because he had never once been able to beat him in the past.
“Wait, wait, Is this really how the story goes?” Omega asked as she pushed her warm comforter aside. Before she could peak at the pages Crosshair pulled away the book.
“Of course it does, now lay back down,” he had trouble fighting the smirk spreading over his face.
“I don’t like this story, can’t you read me one were you’re the good guy?” she asked, the nightlight made her big eyes gleam.
“I’m not a good guy kid,” he huffed.
“You don’t scare me,” she said and wormed deeper into the blanket.
“That’s because I’m not trying yet,” he poked at her sides and enjoyed the ticklish squeals she let out. He closed the book and set it aside, he thought he was doing excellent with the story, “which one DO you want to hear?” usually she preferred epic adventures, though she did have a point that he had a tendency to cast himself as the villain.
“I dunno, isn’t there one where YOU do the saving?”
“Hmmm,” Crosshair observed the little library and picked up a volume, “I can think of one.”
“The rescuers? I haven’t heard of that one yet,” Omega smiled and Crosshair allowed her to snuggle into his side again.
“Ok, just one more story,” he pretended to relent.
“One more,” Omega agreed and motioned for him to start.