My Predator System

Hounded

She slowly pulled the trigger firing on him darts him all over his back.

[ No use being a big animal ] He dashed forward and slid past under her legs and fled west.

The Huntsman groaned and he looked at himself and her fuming at the carnivorous rodent running away.

"Really?" He said and fainted.

"He's on the run." She hurried after him shooting.

Maks transitioned into a rhinoceros beetle and glided off.

"Wherever you go! I will follow you to the ends of the earth!"

She gripped her ankle when it stung.

Maks stumbled outside of their range and he puffed running. The dog outran him. His mongoose senses were still wearing off. He had bitten a man previously.

He wished there were not so many humans in plain sight, too many cars. He ducked because of the possibility of hawks or some other bird of prey and he exhaled. His body slowly morphed back.

[ I'm never gonna get used to this thing. ]

He said at an alley.

His sanity slowly recovered but he hid from dogs or hawks just in case.

That said, mongooses are not apex predators; though they hunt other animals, they are not at the top of the food chain. They do occasionally become the prey instead of the predators.

He just wished, he had not worn a pale yellow sun Tai Chi outfit that said { I'm the target }. It was a dead giveaway.

[ Foo ] He took different lanes. He was still shocked at his luck today, he could shuffle as fluidly as possible, Wu was wiser than he gave credit for. At least with the animals, he unlocked. He shuffled across the streets.

Now tired. He was glad he had home advantage, the huntsmen, whoever they were would have to look harder, and the streets were not foreign to him. It was his territory.

Taking numerous routes, he looked behind him for any stalkers. He did not like the buzzing in his forearms.

He switched clothes and went back home. Acting like two Huntsmen would not show up at the door.

His eyes glazed at what he saw. [ What the_ ]

He looked puzzled by the car parked by the house and the sheepdog whined looking up at him.

"Stay here." He passed it a cracker and climbed the stairs into the house.

He stood in the doorway looking at the homely man in disbelief.

Melvin took off his cap, he had a tan like Maks, brown hair, green eyes and a goatee. He looked fit from work, he sported a loud Hawaiian shirt and pants.

His smile was breezy like Maks'. His green eyes crinkled at the sides with laugh marks and matching enthusiasm. "Maks."

Maks felt like he was eight years old again and met him in a light hug.

The sheepdog barked outside.

"Everything okay?" Melvin quirked an eyebrow.

"Great to see you again."

He tugged at his collar. "Good god. Look how tall you've grown."

Maks blushed, he looked weathered, his hair was dishevelled and he had a few whites in his hair now. But he looked comely as well.

Memories came flooding, those all came with thoughts of his mother.

"Did you get my mail?" He asked leading him to the PC.

"Yeah. I met Staff Sergeant Reed, and never saw him again. When d'you get home?" Maks stood behind him.

He scrolled through the pictures of the ship he was assigned to, dogs, and drafts and he drank coffee.

Reed looked smaller compared to him in a group selfie.

"Just two hours ago." He answered sipping his coffee. "Nice outfit."

Maks looked at his uniform. "Well...thanks."

"Ugh, I missed you guys." He was looking into the PC.

Maks couldn't believe he was back and lowered his eyebrows. "Dad, can we talk about Emily? I feel like this topic has been buried too long in the grave."

Melvin snorted up his coffee.

"Are you upset?"

"No, definitely not_I'm not upset." He spelt out wiping the keyboard. He muttered a curse and found an absorbent pad.

"Good, I brought a houseguest, if you don't mind." He touched his head.

He grinned. "What's his name?"

He gazed at the sheepdog astounded.

"I'm not sure we can just let him in here."

"Sure we can," Maks said smirking and Melvin gazed at him, his mouth fell open.

"...Just clean him up and he's all good."

The sheepdog shivered while Melvin hosed him down.

"How's life?" He muttered.

Maks see-sawed his hands. "Could be better."

Melvin heaved a sigh and ruffled the sheepdog's head. He even took the time to exclude his ear from the spray.

"Who's a good boy?"

Its eyes moved up to Maks's in discomfort.

Maks grimaced and cleared his throat.

Maks freshened up and sniffed on his old black shirt then shrugged wearing it over his undershirt. He buckled his belt and wore his shoes.

Heading to the car.

The dog he named Elvis sat at the corner.

"You sure he's just a guest?" He asked while Elvis lay at the back, his white hair covering his eyes.

"Maybe a friend asked you to keep him or..."

"If that's what guest means," Maks said and chuckled adjusting the rearview mirror away from Doreen driving in.

"Step on it."

Melvin chuckled nervously, when he asked about Emily, he shrunk into himself. His stomach churned and he drove smoothly to a big ranch.

The main house stood far away from the meadow with an oakwood fence.

"Victor!" Maks hopped out and so did Elvis who was taking his time.

Melvin looked like he had stepped into a new realm.

Victor nodded and greeted Melvin.

"This your friend?" He pointed.

"Mister Melvin. What a pleasant surprise. I'm Victor." Victor said.

He sported a blue vest, brown cargo and sneakers. The orange dye in his hair sheened.

"Right this way." His eyes crinkled and the shuffled across the field.

"Great, your dad's back. Marshall's gonna love this." Victor kept walking faster.

"I have something to talk about," Maks said, his voice gone inexplicably deep. He held his shoulder.

"Right now?"

"I'm being tracked down."

"Whoa. Uh." He pushed up his glasses.

"By who? Are there any chips on you?"

"Huntsmen," Maks explained everything. He had a funny image of impalas in his head. He sighed. "You see? That dog kind of saved my life."

Some Japanese tune from Demon Slayer came up.

Victor checked his phone and smiled. "Hi Irma, I missed you. Can you call me back later? Five minutes."

Maks tapped his foot glaring at Victor moving about and chatting. He pocketed his phone.

"Did they follow you here?" He said with wide eyes.