A Hunter's Best Friend

[Jak Skirata]

Zygeria

He could hear the loud two legged creatures from within the darkland that it had been in for so long. A pleasant change from the somber silence that filled the darkspace for so long before. His large, bat-like ears rotated and a single, hungry eye inched open in curiosity as the darkspace began to roar like it had several times on his journey to this strange place.

Light peaked from the bottom of the darkspace and he could hear the others scurry farther back into their cages as a host of unfamiliar scents and sounds burst through the light crack. But it was not the unfamiliarity that seemed to frighten the others, it was the pungent, sickly smell that accompanied their captor.

Captain Monaji Calik, a Zygerian slaver. The tall feline species looked like he would be a profitable dinner for him and his pack back home in the forest plains where he once lived. He had been mistaken in attacking him alone and captured only to be put into this darkspace.

He stood up and growled, which hurt due to the fresh wound that sat upon his lower jaw. The Zygarian cat-bastard had removed his tusk, which was painful but also meant the slaver would only suffer more as he ripped him to shreds with his claws and teeth instead.

"Alllright you mizerable beasts, it is time for you to line my pockets." The whip activated and cracked against his cage, causing him to stop his growling. His eyes remained defiant in the darkness as the Zygarrian and his lackeys dragged him and the other animals into the harsh sunlight and noise of the Zygarrian slave market.

 

[Jak Skirata]

Hours passed and one by one the other creatures that had been taken by the filthy feline humanoid were given to other males and females of various species through the exchange of clinky objects. He didn't understand the transaction and why these people held such a currency in such a high regard, what he did know was that he was beginning to hunger and that plump, round bird sitting on the dastard's shoulder was looking tastier and tastier.

His mouth drooling was interrupted by the animal instinct to survive. The flight or fight response kicked in as a dangerous scent entered his range. He had never smelled anything like it, but he knew whatever it was it probably was't good news for the Anooba, even behind this cage. It began to growl which elicited a shock from an angered merchant.

"Stupid anooba mutt, it is scaring away all of my customers! I wish it would be done with already!"

He whimpered in surprise and pain from the shock and curled up in the corner of his cage.

What else could he do now? The dastard would not let him defend himself and the thing was getting closer and closer. The smell of blood and conflict stained the thing.

"Interesting, I think we can help each other out then!" came the friendly voice of a man dressed heavy armor that hid the death just under his skin. Of decent height, but still shorter than the 2 and three quarters meter tall Zygerian. At his side was another creature he had never smelled or seen. Almost as tall as the man it strode next to, its fleshy spikes filled out a majestic blue mane and walked next to the other creature with its head held high.

 

[Jak Skirata]

The Zygerian's eyes narrowed at the man and his massive pet. It was obvious even to the Anooba that his feline captor did not take kindly to the man's tone of voice.

"Oh?"

"Aye," came the stern response of the potential buyer. The Mandalorian approached the cage that he had been stuck in and stuck his hand near it. The Anooba cowered but his stomach was hungry and when the creature pulled out a raw hank of meat from a burlap sack at his waist well, an Anooba had to eat right? He jumped up and ran, snagged the meat and retreated to the corner of his cage.

"Hey! Only I feed my merchandise!" shouted the Zygerian angrily, brandishing his shock whip. It snapped to life causing the Anooba to flinch. He had felt that thing before. He dropped the meat with a splat and the death creature's face lost all emotion as he stood, obviously displeased by the Zygerian's reaction.

"He was hungry." At this point their confrontation was beginning to draw eyes. Another two feline creatures dressed in strange armor approached them.

"What seems to be the problem here?"

"Nothing officers, we were just talking business." The man who stank of death brandished something to the officers, likely a bag of the clinky things and they nodded and walked away, chatting about something. The Zygerian slaver grumbled and turned his back on the the man and began tinkering with things.

"How much for the Anooba?"

"More than you can afford." It was obvious he didn't want to sell at this point.

"You'd be surprised, give me a shot." he said, waving his hand slowly. The Zygerian turned around and nodded.

"Alright, what is it you would like to pay for this fine creature?"

"I'd Like it...for twenty Creds. That sound good?" A barely audible grunt came from the man and he reached into his pant pockets and pulled out a pair of archaic durasteel keys, a blank look on his face. "Good doing buisiness with you," the man said throwing a few credits at the man.

 

[Jak Skirata]

With a click the anooba's cage was connected to large furry animal and the cage was brought into another dark ship. Food was slipped in and just like the Zygerian's ship this area of the ship smelled of other creatures he had never smelled before. Another of the large felines slept peacefully in the corner on a bed of dried grass and the large fury, horned animal.

Heavy steps from the death man entered within ear shot. Something touched his mind, it was like nothing he had ever felt before. He also smelled more meat, more processed this time.

<This is from Ba'buir's food cut, but don't tell him that.> A language that he even had more trouble understanding, great, but the Anooba wasn't one to give up a good meal. <Hmm...Where's your tusk eh?> he reached in to pet the wild anooba, and nothing got between him and food. He snapped at the hand causing the man to draw it back through the cage. <Tssk, not one for touching eh? Well you still need a name...Edee? No...How about Ures Edee? In regards to your...Missing tusk? No, no too literal. You shall be Iskandar.> The Anooba didn't care what he was saying but the man seemed satisfied by whatever had just been said and left.

The Ures Edee looked up from his bowl and sniffed before getting back to his meal.