A sense of doing the ‘ right thing ‘ to eradicate whatever lay within the depths of another ancient pyramid – one THREAT to her remaining family of a handful – was exploited just as what had happened in the Antarctic. that was some-odd years ago.
Now, here she is again, in the Latin Americas ; likely to FINISH off what that old man had started. Lex isn’t here for the profit or the fame, but the dark-haired woman knows that lives will be lost if history were to repeat itself again.
The explorer had already given the muscle of the expedition an idea of what to look out for if the blade-wielding hunters were to RETURN – tech that cloaked them with invisibility, advanced harpoons, nets, along with an otherworldly strength & agility.. to list a few of their advantages.
Such halls, laden with dust & aged webbing, depict images & statues similar to what Lex had seen previously. for a moment, the chaperone SLACKS behind as a hand motions toward her face, umber hues gazing at a particular carving of the ritual ; a hunter being marked with the remains of their prey, the DEFEATED adversary depicted having been torn limb from limb in a combining piece.
The previous pyramid had been a straightforward path to the weapons, the survivor notes, where this one held more statues & busts of the victorious hunters of generations past, as if it were a physical gallery. many sport the mark of their tribe – clan ? she wasn’t certain what the appropriate term to use was – on the front of their helmets, but not always. few are sculpted in GROUPS of more than one, though a fair number are seen with the serpent-like creatures in a pose of defeat or submission even in death.
❝ remember : don’t. touch. anything. ❞
hulking creature, yet movements perdure such elegance. digits dance enticingly upon chilled metal, bio-mask ceremoniously removed, conscientiously emplaced before beasts feet. taken to a knee, helm bowed, jaws wide, his voice mellowed, soothful crackles engulf in precious memories long forgotten. elders, never bought to past, even after death, they shall be honoured; the young hunter could only hope to garner the half of their honours. eyes linger, light beamed through icy caverns, shadowy limbs outstretched collecting upon derelict souls within. moss scales antediluvian brickwork, resurrected by the cherry green lichen eagerly breaking through each breach of integrity, water collecting before him, breaking through cracks above. one final gaze upon the effigy before mask is replaced.
the hunt continues. beast ever vigilant, fear of the unknown lingering amongst shadows. one false step, one lapse of concentration was all it took. moment passes, options observed, the path ahead, caliginous, as once again, life signs return negative. he proceeds further among destiny, though, plans are fleetly and abruptly silenced by cries of agony and torture. bone-chilling, cataclysmic. noise radiating far throughout a broken paradise. the prey, they’re here. a welcomed challenge in the eyes of the hunter. without moments thought, adrenaline fuelled actions, combistick telescopes open, his roar, spine-chilling as the beast charges narrowed hallways with reckless abandon.
the end is near, their heart-stopping shrieks ever clearer. light ahead, his guiding source, stopping just before the doorway. awaiting him, a jocund congregation of green waving in fragranced breeze. the creatures run scared, sinking back amongst crevices unseen. cowards, when the element of surprise is no longer their virtue they retreat back into hiding.
source of the noise became apparent, copious amounts of luminous green covering floors. the beast follows the trail close behind, brushing through thick shrubbery as fears turn to reality. resting upon shallow tree trunk, his fallen brother. though, dubious, his footing ceased, once again scouting for the inflictors of such horror. once clear, only then did he advance, made quicker when the husks arm moved. sympathy, emotion so unbeknownst to him, yet obvious in these times. he comes crouched, eye to eye with the other, removing his mask and revealing what lay beneath. face of the defeated, a hunt over to soon. their ideology silent, answered by a single nod. heavy hand rests upon the other as clicks from his arm count down and the youngblood has to make way.