Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Hunter's Moon ❯ The Fight, Part One ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ and I'm only borrowing Bardock from a friend.

 

 

Many thanks to LisaB for her beta skills.

 

Chapter Three

The Fight, Part One

 

Lunara stopped under a wide-branched tree, frantically searching the shadows around her. She couldn't continue to run; there was nowhere for her to go.

 

She tightened her lush lips into a line of resolve. She stripped off her full length travel skirt and gauzy blouse, baring her creamy skin to the jungle breeze. The clothing would only hinder her in battle, giving her opponent an unfair advantage.

 

She kicked aside a pile of fallen leaves, dumping her clothes in the hole, and covering them up. She smoothed the adjustable straps to her halter top that connected to a weapon harness, and hitched up her short wrap-around skirt. The material she wore was made to be flexible and form-fitting. It stretched to any shape without breaking and would snap back into place with ease. All of her people wore similar outfits.

 

Lunara scanned the boughs of the trees, looking for the one with the deepest shadows. She skimmed up a slick trunk without the aide of a rope, her fingers sinking into the bark as she reached for the lofty branches. She settled back, waiting for her prey patiently as her mercury eyes glittered with blue fire.

 

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Bardock followed the alluring aroma of his Prey through the humid jungle, ignoring the trails of sweat that caused his skin to itch. The canopy had become so thick that the round moon was lost from sight, but its glorious power still pulsed through his veins, making him feel invincible, immortal even.

 

He paused in the middle of the path, casting about for his Prey's scent. From the ground, the scent beneath the moldering decay of the jungle's carpet was strong, but it was just as powerful at the base of a nearby tree.

 

Bardock felt a sensation of trepidation skitter down his spine as he realized that the Hunter had become the Hunted. His warrior instinct warned him a split second before a mass of white fur, fangs and claws struck him squarely in the chest, knocking him to the forest floor. The large feline sunk its claws into Bardock's chest, causing rivulets of crimson blood to flow over his ribs and onto the ground.

 

The cat lunged for his throat, its ivory fangs gleaming in the pale light. Bardock's powerful hands wrapped around the beast's neck, his fingers digging into the luxuriously soft fur. He held the creature at bay, his biceps bulging with the effort. He gritted his teeth, his own fangs flashing beneath the curl of his lip.

 

Bardock gathered his strength, cursing the rules of the Hunt that forbade him to use ki. With a mighty grunt he flung the creature away from him, biting his tongue as its claws took a fair share of his flesh with it.

 

The cat landed on all fours, instantly lowering into a crouch to attack again. Bardock sprung to his feet, matching the beast's stance. They circled around each other slowly, calculating the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent. Bardock had hunted many Prey in his life, but he had never seen a creature that moved with such grace and had so much raw intelligence sparkling in its eyes. It was almost a shame to kill such a magnificent animal.

 

The cat was saturated with the scent of his Prey, but he knew that it couldn't be what he was hunting. His Prey would be sentient, not an animal. Perhaps this was a pet?

 

The cat's lip curled back, and a menacing growl echoed from its throat. Bardock returned the threat with his own deep-chested rumble. Without warning the beast leapt at him, claws outstretched and fangs dripping. Bardock braced his left heel, flinging his right leg out in a perfect round house kick. He struck the animal in midair, smirking as it flew into a nearby tree with a loud crack that startled a nest of sleeping birds. They escaped into the sky with a flutter of wings and screeches of protest.

 

The cat recovered quickly, shaking it off. Bardock was struck with a sudden admiration of the creature's unblemished snow-white fur that gleamed silver when it stepped into a patch of moonlight that had found its way through the jungle ceiling. It would make an excellent decoration for his home.

 

While Bardock fantasized about the many females he could seduce on the silky fur while stretched out before a warm fire, the beast in question slipped into the shadows and out of sight.

 

Bardock stood still in indecision. The large cat was not what he was after, and he had only until the sun's rising to hunt his Prey. He returned to the spot where the scent was the strongest, and he kicked the leaves aside. He bent over, fishing out some sheer garments from the hole.

 

His brow creased with consternation as he shook out the obviously female arraignment. Was this some sort of joke? Had he been sent to slaughter some hapless female? It was true that some races had great female fighters, including the Saiyans, but they were never as strong as their male counterparts. This was an insult to his pride!

 

Bardock balled the clothing in his fists, his chest vibrating with displeasure. The beast inside of him howled at the moon, and although he could not see it, he knew that the celestial orb had already climbed a quarter of the sky.

 

He was furious at the insult dealt him, but the greater shame would be to fail at the Hunt. If that should happen he would forever be known as the warrior who had lost to a woman.

 

He glanced down at the clothing, a second question entering his mind. Why had she discarded her clothing? True, they were not made for fighting, they were too billowy and delicate, but now she would be naked. Unless of course, she had a change of clothing with her. That seemed more likely than her running bare-assed through the forest.

 

Bardock's wholly male mind conjured the image of a tall, thickly muscled female gliding through the shadows, her midnight hair trailing behind her. He grinned to himself, suddenly pleased to be hunting a female.

 

He dropped the clothing to the ground and cast about for her scent, eager to return to the chase. The only scent he could find was that of the cat and he shrugged, unconcerned. He followed after the beast, assuming that it would return to its Mistress.

 

It led him through the forest at a full run for an hour, impressing Bardock with its stamina. He hoped that it was chasing after the girl. Since he was unable to use ki, he wouldn't be able to fly back to the beginning to start over if he was led astray.

 

A tingle at the base of his neck was the only warning before the darkness revealed his attacker. He nimbly stepped to the side, and the large cat flew past him. The creature spun on its hindquarters and lunged. Bardock met it head on and they locked together in a battle for dominance. Standing on its hind legs, the beast was as tall as Bardock and nearly as powerful.

 

Bardock wrapped his hands around the beast's forearms, barely keeping its sharp claws from scraping his shoulders. They pushed against each other, trying to use strength and balance to shove the other to the ground. Bardock released his grip on one of the paws, rearing back for a punch as the cat swiped at him. He struck first, his fist landing across the muzzle. He heard the crack of bone and felt the give of flesh.

 

The creature sprung away while Bardock smirked in victory. He knew that he had broken its jaw. Without its teeth, it was far less of a threat. He turned to face the cat, but in its place stood a woman. In one fluid motion she had transformed from fur and fangs to bare skin and flashing eyes.