A-Hunting I will go

[Mrrew]

Mrrew stood over his small cot, which held a bulging back ful lof supplies, and his brand new ARGH- HVKF-MD-1 shattergun slugthrower, laying next to two ammo magazines. Hopefully, spending most of his savings on this weapon was worth it... Then again, he'd only saved a few thousand credits over the past three years; all the money was split seven ways. But still, it better be worth it. He'd looked up what he was hunting on his datapad, they didnt seem to hard to kill. Not any harder then those Dathomiran rancors he had heard about. It's just a rancor with spikes, right? How hard could it be to kill one? Mrrew hefted the pack on to his back, and slipped one of the magazines in to his backpack pocket, slamming the other one in to his new slugthrower. The tiger-esque alien glanced around the sleeping quarters for a moment, taking it all in. Seven cots sat haphazardly around the room, the walls were covered with posters and pictures, and a shelf sat next to each cot containing vairous personal items of each of the hunters that Mrrew lived with. This is where he had lived for three years. Hopefully, he'd get back in one piece....

The Togorian strolled out of the hunting outpost, and glanced to the looming forest of Kashyyyk that stood not far from the enterance to the building behind him. If he killed one of these monsters, he'd get enough for a ship... enough to get off this planet. All he had to do was kill one measly monster, one measly "Jedi killer". It couldn't be to hard, right? Mrrew shook his head, trying to reassure himself, and started walking towards the forest of Worshyr trees that loomed over him. It wasn't time to worry himself about details, like how these monsters were responsible for the death of hundreds of Jedi. He had to push those thoughts out of his head. After all, he'd been hunting the Katarns and other Kashyyyk-native monsters of these forests for years now... No, it wasn't time to worry. He could handle this easily. It was time to hunt a Terentatek.

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew pushed on through the thick brush of the ground level of Kashyyyk's neverending forest. He was only on the edge of it now, so there was still plenty of light making it's way through now-thin canopy, unlike the parts of the forest he was journeying too, where it would be almost pitch black dark. Mrrew kept his scattergun ready in both hands, stopping to sniff the air every once in awhile, with his ears constantly swiveling for any sign of the predators of Kashyyyk. If you let your guard down for one moment out here, you could get eaten before you knew what was eating you. He wanted to get to the shadowlands and back in one piece. He'd been there before of course, but that was with six other hunters watching his back... not alone, with every snapping branch and birdsong alerting him. Never had he been in the forests alone. Therfore, he was on high alert, watching the shadows carefully, in case anything deemed him a worthy meal.

There were dozens of creatures in the forest that would find him an easy lunch; Wyyyshokks, Katarns, Annakonas, Weavers, the list goes on. He knew about most of teh creatures on the planet, hunted a good number of them, but anyone could be ambushed or suprised. He had to stay on high alert. So, with his ears flicerking constantly, Mrrew ventured on through the dense brush. Hopefully, he'd be able to find and kill a Terentatek quickly. According to the research he did, they inahbitated the deepest parts of the shadowlands- so that's where he was going. He only hoped that he could get there, and back in one piece. Preferably with a dead Terentatek. How he was going to kill it, he hd no idea... For something smaller, he'd set a baited snare. But for something that huge? Hopefully his new scattergun did the trick. Soon, he'd have to set up camp for the night.... hopefully he'd find a safe spot. He'd hate to wake up in the middle of the night to find a Katarn chewing on his leg.

 

[Mrrew]

The Togorian stepped in to a small clearing- about six meters by eight meters- where only small plants and the occasional bush grew from the thick grass. The canopy above was slightly thinner then it had been, so the clearing was lit up enough for Mrrew to easily scan his surroundings. It would be night soon, when all the predators came out. He'd have to set up camp. The tall alien dropped his pack on to the ground, and began to rummage through it, looking for his auto-tent. "Net... Bantha jerky... poncho... Tent!" Mrrew removed a small set of poles, wrapped together in green material, and moved in to the center of the clearing.

Within the next ten minutes, he had the tent set up, and a small hole in the ground dug for a fire. Now, all he needed was some firewood- a fire would keep the animals away while he slept. The hunter snatched his grand new slugthrower off the grass, and raised it up, ready to fire at any time as he walked in to the forest surrounding the clearing. Dry firewood was extremely hard to find... Kashyyyk is a wet planet, nearly e very piece of fallen timber in the woods around the clearing was damp- much to damp to use for firewood. As he reached down to pick up one of the few small dry branches he'd found, he heard the low bushy branches behind him moving, his ears swiveling back. The Togorian quickly bolted up, turning around to raise his slugthrower to where the sound was, just as a small grey creatue leaped from the branch, directly at his face. Mrrew pulled the trigger, but was extremely supried when the weapon didn't fire- it just clicked. He should have read the instruction manual. The creature tackled hit the large Togorian in the face, clawing and biting, before Mrrew flung it to the ground, and ssmashed the barrel of his slugthroer in to the animal's face. Panting heavily, he slowly kneeled down, looking down at the small creature with a now-broken face. It was a Tach. Just a fething monkey. Mrrew frowned, and ran a hand over the small cuts and bite barks on his face, staring down at the dead monkey. "Fething little monster...." The hunter grabbed the monkey by an arm, and slung it's body over his shoulder. At least he'd have something to eat once he made a fire... he was getting tired of Bantha Jerky.

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in his sleeping bag. He quickly got to his feet, and snatched his slugthrower off the ground. This time, he pressed the charging button on the side of the rifle, causing it to emit a low humming sound for a few seconds. Good thing he didn't throw out that manual... The Togorian stepped towards the piece of fabric that served as the door to his tent, and sniffed the air several times. He'd heard something. He slowly pushed the fabric aside, stepping out- his ears swiveling in every direction for any sound or sign of one of the many carnivores of Kashyyyk. Something could have smelled the Tach cooking earlier... A quick rustling sound nearby caught Mrrew's attention, and he quickly shifted his aim to where it came from. He didnt' want to fire until he actually saw the thing- this rifle took ten seconds to recharge...

Another closer sound of movement pulled the hunter's attention, and he turned his head just in time to see something leaping out of one of the lower branches Worshyr trees. In the dark, even with his excellent night vision, he had trouble making out exactly what it was- something with thick green scales, and a maw of flashing teeth. Mrreww didn't have time to react. The monster tackled the Togorian to the ground, forcing Mrrew to raise his right arm to the creature's jaws, to avoid getting his throat ripped out. He yowled in pain as the creature's teeth sunk in to his arm, at the same time as he snatched the blaster off the ground with his other hand. Before the Katarn had a chance to go in for another bite, Mrrew pulled the trigger, aimed at the stomach of his attacker. In a burst of noise. the monster settled down on top of the Togorian. After catching his breath, Mrrew pushed the Katarn off of him with some struggling, and slowly stood up, looking at the large hole going completely through the katarn's body, from the stomach and out the back. "Well... the rifle works..."

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew, the Togorian hunter, hefted his pack up on to his back. Rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy of Kashyyyk, bringing news that a new day had started. The shadowlands made up most of the ground level of the Kashyyyk forests- starting a few miles in to the forest, where the foliage got thicker, and the canopy became so dense that it was impossible to discern wether it was night or day. He glanced around where his camp was- he'd covered his firepit with dirt, to prevent another fire starting from the sparks, and the guts, meat, and skeleton rfom the Katarn lay at the edge of the forest nearby. Scavengers would be around soon, just another reason to start moving. The Togorian placed the roll of slightly damaged Katarn hide he'd collected from the dead animal last night- spending most of the night to do so- on the back of his pack, and hefted his slugthrower in to his hands. He'd made sure to charge it while he was packing up his tent, so it would be ready to fire at a moment's notice.

With all ready, Mrrew stepped in to the forest to continue his trek to the shadowlands, Constnatly keeping all senses on high alert, he ventured on through the brush. With every step, the forests got thicker and darker, and the instances where something was heard lurking nearby, testing to see if Mrrew was worth hunting, became more frequent. Every once in awhile, the Togorian would pass a clump of biophospherant glowing plants, or the larger man-eating ones that the shadowlands were famous for. Twice, he spotted more Katarns in the trees, but neither one attacked him. Prehaps they took the roll of Katarn hide on his back as a warning. Soon, the forests had gotten as dark as they were the previous night, only Mrrew's exellent night vision serving him to find his way through the forests. He had reached the edge of the Shadowlands. No, it wouldn't be long now. If he found a Terentatek at all, it would be soon. He just hoped he would be ready.

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew had been wandering through the Shadowlands for hours, now. Several times he'd had to shoot in the general direction of a predtator to ward it off- although luckily there were no calls as close as the Katarn. His kept his rifle raised constantly as he walked, he wasn't going to take any chances. He was in a forest full of deadly monsters, to hunt a deadlier monster. And he was alone. It had hit him recently; if something killed him out here, no one would know. If he got injured like he did with the Katarn- he looked down at his arm, which he had bandaged last night- and couldn't fix it himself... No one could help him. He was completely and utterly alone. Mrrew was torn from his thoughts when his boot squised in to an ankle deep puddle of mud.

No, not mud... He'd stepped in a giant pile of poodoo. The Togorian stepped backwards, and stared down at the large pile of exrement. What the heck could leave something that big? Even a Kashyyyk Bantha didn't have craps that big... The pile was intact- so it didn't fall from the upper levels of the forest. That meant it came from a ground-dweller... Mrrew's eyes widened as realization hit him. Terentatek. He'd stepped in a pile of Terentatek poodoo. Unless there was something equally huge in the shadowlands, there were Terentateks here after all. For the first time on the hunt, Mrrew began to fear for his life. This entire time he had been subconciously telling himself that he wouldn't find one... There was no way there was any around here. He would spend days searching, and then go back. Only now, did he realize that he wasn't worrying he wouldn't find one, he was hoping that he wouldn't. How can he stand up against something that kills and eats Jedi? If there was really Terentateks here, they could be anywhere... No, he reassured himself, the monster that produced that could be anywhere by now... Miles away. Who knows how old it was? What he had pushed away from his mind though, what he hadn't put together, was the one evidence he had that the monster was close... It was still warm.

 

[Mrrew]

Something was close. It was night by now, normally Mrrew would begin to set up camp, but there was something nearby... He'd following a trail he'd seen an hour earlier- after convincing himself that he shouldn't turn around and run- and now, he was getting very close... Everything was silent, all around. The usual sounds of small carrion birds squaking, and insects buzzing dissipeared. The entire forest seemed to be silent... Mrrew raised his slugthrower, ready to fire, his ears swiveling every which way to listen for the slightest noise. Where the feth is it... The sound of a branch snapping behind him caused the Togorian to spina round, and fire his rifle to the general area wher ehe heard the sound. Pellets ripped through the foliage where he fired, but it hit nothing solid other then trees... "Feth!" He quickly pressed the charge button again, starting the ten second period until the weapon would be ready again.

That's when it attacked.

A massive spiked head charged forwards from the thick brush, propelled by two powerfully muscled legs. Mrrew dived out of the way, dropping his slugthrower, only just in time to avoid being pummeled. He looked up, seeing the monster before him; it stood about 6 inches taller then he did, sporting rows of spikes down it's head and back, and two massive tusks. The monster charged forwards again, two clawed arms reaching down to the frightened Togorian. Mrrew rolled out of the way again, the creatue's claws shredding acros sthe back of his shirt and shaving fur. The monster was relentless. It turned again, letting out a thundering roar that caused the Togorian to slam his hands over his ears. While he was disoriented, the creature charged forwards a third time, slamming the Togorian aside with his massive head. Mrrew went flying. When he landed, the world was swimming around him, the mosnter was looming over him, growling in the back of it's throat, satisfied that he'd won his meal. He heard his slugthrower beep that is' charge was ready, within arms reach. Had it really only been ten seconds? In the time that Mrrew's hand bolted to the slugthrower, the Terentatek charged again, it's arms outstrecthed and it's maw opened revealing rows of sharp teeth. Mrrew didn't have much time to aim, he pointed the weapon in the general direction of his attack. There was a loud bang from the end of the barrel, and a roaring scream from the Terentatek before it turned in to the forests, and dissipeared as suddenly as it came. "Well...That's not a fething rancor with horns..."

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew was scared poodooless now. He walked slowly through the shadowlands, following the smell of the Terentatek, as well as the trail of bent shrubbery and broken branches. A wounded Terentatek made a mess. He held his slugthrowr high, ready to fire at any moment. "I must be crazy... Hunting a fething super-monster." A branch snapped, gathering Mrrew' s attention quickly to the canopy above him. He only just stopped himself from firing blindly in to the leaves and branches. "Just a Tach, probably...." The Togorian shook his head, and ocntinued on the trail created by the injured monster he was following. He couldn't let himself get freaked out by every other noise. Besides, this thing should be easy to kill now that it's injured, right? It can't be much harder now... This time tomorrow i'll be back at the hunting outpost, drinking some Correlian whiskey... He just had to keep his wits about him. So, he continued on, nearly jumping out of his skin at the slightest sound. With all his convincing himself that there was nothing to be scared of, he didn't realize that he had heard the same sound several times overhead. A scuttling sound that repeated itself every few minutes. Something was following him.

 

[Mrrew]

It was close. It's scent was everywhere, and the trail of bent foliage that it left had stopped. It had to be close, somewhere. It coudln't have just dissipeared... Mrrew heard a sound from the lower canopy above him, just in time to turn around just in time to see something leaping from it's hiding place among the branches; a massive red spider-like creature. How many monsters are in this kriffing forest?! Mrrew dived to the side, causing the spider to hit the ground where he was standing. He quickly raised his slugthrower to the creature, only to see several more leap from the branches. Kashyyykian giant weavers- known to track their prey for hours before ambushing them in numbers. And they are alot bigger then the datacrons said.

The Togorian changed his aim to the closest weaver, and fired, watching as the spider virtually exploded. /Well they arent slug-proof, that a plus./ The weavers backed up a bit after they saw one of their kind more or less explode. They had tough exoskeletons- but if that was pierced, they were done. The three remaining weavers began to circle the Togorian, looking for an opening. Pack hunters. Fething fantastic. He flicked the recharge button on the slugthrower, keeping it aimed on the nearest spider. "Come on... charge already!" One of the spiders spun it's spinnerets towards the Togorian, and fired a sticky line of thread, catching Mrrew's arm. Dropping his slugthrowr, he stumbled backawrds, just as another one leaped at him. Before the creature could stab him with it's massive curved fangs, a familliar bellowing roar echoed through the forest. Mrrew slowly pushed himself to his feet as the spiders scattered in to the shadows. "Fan-kriffing-tastic. It didn't bleed out."

 

[Mrrew]

The Terentatek burst out of the forest line, looming over the sitting Togorian. The smell of blood almost overpowered it's own scent, it's left arm was hanging limply at it's side. "Well... Kriff. It's still alive." The monster roared in reply, and slowly stalked forwards, keeping it's eyes on it's prey. Mrrew pushed himself to his feet, only for the Terentatek to burst forwards, slapping him aside like an insect with it's good arm. Mrrew went flying through the air, slamming in to the brush a few meters away. As the monster stalked towards him again, Mrrew slowly stood from the brush, wobbling dizzily. As soon as he stood, The Terentatek charged again, flinging the Togorian away once more. This time, he stayed down, lying in a crumpled heap and watching the monster get closer through double vision. The Terentatek stood over the fallen hunter, cuffing him aside with it's good arm. Unable to do more then brace himself for impact, Mrrew went rolling across the ground again, trying to play dead until he could regain his composure. He slowly opened his eyes after a moemnt, to see the Terentatek stooping over him, sniffing to see if he was still alive. As soona st the monster noticed his eyes opened, the Terentatek cuffed Mrrew aside again, flinging him to a nearby clump of bushes. He was playing with him. Mrrew slowly pushed himself onto all fours, trying to stand. His limbs were sore and bruised, and his head was pounding.

Panting and coughing, the Togorian looked up as the jedi-killer before him slowly stepped forwards, waiting for him to get up. The togorian hunted scanned the area, looking for any way to escape the thing he was hunting. He saw the slugthrower. Aaaand... he saw the monster that was between him and the slugthrower. Mrrew blinked up at the Terentatek, before slowly standing up, causing the Terentatek to charge again. Mrrew braced himself for impact, clenching his eyes shut, and was sent flying with another blow across the dark forest. This time, he didn't get away with bruises and battering. A sickening snapping sound was heard above the Terentatek's growls as he landed. Howling in pain, and clecnhing his arm, Mrrew opened his eyes again, watching the Terentatek slowly step forwards, to see if his toy was dead yet... One thing did go as planned, though. He was closer to the slugthrower. Clenching his jaw shut tight to stop himself from groaning in pain from his arm, Mrrew slowly reached his arm out without getting up, pulling the slugthrower to him... The Terentatek charged again. Straight into a blast emitting from the end of Mrrew's slugthrower. Mrrew watched as the monster stumbled backwards, a large hole easily visible in it's lower jaw, before dropping to the ground with a dying moan. "Well it's about fething time..." Mrrew staggered to his feet, clutching his injured and broken arm. "Now how the hell do I get it out of this kriffing forest..."