"Please..." Sebastion threw a worried glance over the edge, where her hold was slipping. He knew the implications. These were humanoid guards, but they were clearly not of Earth's origin. Their muscular design led him to believe they had a life full of hardship and danger. With the way they acted, coming to this cold wasteland like it was a game, it was voluntary.

He didn't know why he had the H'dui'se that the temple carvings spoke of, but it made him somewhat protected. And right now that was Lex's only chance at survival.

The big behemoth of a Hunter looked at him, huffing. How could he take the Italian man's word? Trust he would no longer run?

"Look- I..." Sebastion glanced quickly from the slipping Lex, to the still Hunter, his green reptilian skin a stark contrast to his dull silver armament. The archeologist was at a loss for words. She only had so much time. And the sounds of Scar, the slightly smaller warrior, battling the alien drones echoed in the vast cavern, just a ledge below and across the steep ravine. He implored, stepping closer, "Please, Celtic... I am a man of my word. I will go with you. Long as you like. Just save her."

Those eyes, so green and worried, struck a chord within the cold warrior.

Celtic's hardened heart softened, his mandibles flaring slightly as he took in the other's scent. He trilled, stepping closer to tower over the slender man. A large hand came to cup the other's face, the calloused palm easily curling around those angular, yet soft, features of the Pyode Amedha. He never knew he would come to appreciate the delicate beauty of such a creature. He had always viewed them as weak. Pathetic. Irritatingly intelligent. But weak all the same.

Sebastian was different, though. He could tell.

He was something special.

And word or not, he had a feeling keeping Z'bas'tyon around would become much more difficult if he allowed the female to die.

Exhaling with a quick shake of his head, dreads flicking in his irritation, Celtic nodded once, eyes pressing shut once before his amber gaze opened to behold those worried greens.

Releasing the soft meat before he could change his mind, Celtic turned with what could almost be mistaken as a loud grumble, striding with large steps towards the ledge with a purpose. Lex's big brown eyes widened, not sure if he was coming to kill her or not, before she gave a yelp, finally losing her grip.

Sebastian's shout was strangled in his throat.

Celtic took the last two steps in a powered jog, diving the last few feet. His clawed arm swung downwards over the ledge. With not a moment to spare, his hand clasped around the disappearing female's, Lex giving a shout at the tug of gravity, her body slamming into the crumbled edge below. But a few bruises and scrapes were nothing compared to what could have happened the mile or two down into the darkness.

As she looked up, her heart caught in her throat. Celtic was the picture of death himself, dreads swinging to frame that visored face. His hold was strong on her forearm. He paused a moment, as if in thought.

The mountain guide was no idiot. She knew she wasn't the top of the behemoth's most liked list, if she made the cut at all.

"You drop me, you can forget about your chances with Sebastian." Lex growled, taking a shot in the dark.

Celtic rumbled in distaste, grip tightening as he stood, picking her up as easily as if she were a piece of straw. Without having to raise his arm, she easily dangled half a foot from the ground as he turned. Taking a few unhappy steps from the ledge, Celtic glowered at Sebastian, waving his other hand towards the unharmed female. As if to say, 'see?' before promptly dropping her to her own two feet. She nearly fell over, completely unprepared.

Sebastian sagged in relief, and despite the rough handling, said gratefully, "Thank you."

Celtic trilled dismissively, glancing off to the side with a short huff.

With surprise, Sebastian found it almost... well, cute.

"Yeah, thanks." Lex said, brushing her red suit off.

Celtic glowered shortly at her, as though saying he didn't do it for her.

A large thump announced the presence of the yellow skinned Yautja, now on the same ledge as all of them. He surprised them all as he started barking and trilling angrily, advancing on the larger Hunter. He chirped in anger, gesturing towards Lex and the ledge and at Celtic himself.

Lex and Sebastian exchanged wide eyed glances, before turning to watch the scene.

Celtic took a step back, but otherwise looked unapologetic, shrugging as he trilled and barked back, tone less aggravated than his smaller compatriot.

Scar huffed, shaking his head before turning to take in both Oomans. Both silent. He looked pointedly at them, then Celtic, then at the dark hallway before them, the only path from their current ledge. In turn, Celtic clicked haltingly, head swinging slowly to regard Sebastian.

He trilled, head jerking towards the hallway, visor covered eyes still in contact with those hesitant greens.

Sebastian exchanged a glance with Lex, shrugging before he said in a forcedly upbeat tone, "Well... our chances at surviving could be worse, without our new friends."

"That's a good way to put it." Lex replied, catching Sebastian's worried gaze directed at the waiting Hunter. She shot her own at the observant Scar.

The two Oomans stepped towards the waiting Yautjas, and as one they all started down the ill lit pathway deeper into the pyramid maze.

-o-o-o-

A/N: sorry guys, shorter chapter than normal. Gonna be gone for a little bit, so thought I'd throw this out there.