It was a while until he was healthy enough to climb.

After escaping to the safety of the deep jungle, Reptile had set about healing his arm. With the surprisingly advanced first aid kit, it wasn't difficult; though, he was pretty sure he took a few wrong medicines, but that shouldn't kill him. He just had to disinfect, clean, stitch,--that hurt a bit--and wrap the wound. His natural healing abilities would take care of the rest. So he wasn't going to die, but, he was going to have to take at least a day to rest.

However, it wasn't even night yet when the first scout appeared.

He was a small man; thin and short. Reptile believed he was a scout from the village, sent to find him and probably track him.

Reptile wasn't healed properly, so he was unable to climb a tree or turn invisible. He settled with hiding in a bush, staying still, and hoping his green scales would camouflage him.

He stayed still as a stone for about twenty minutes until the scout got a bit too close. He was within five feet of Reptile's hiding place. Reptile tried his hardest to not make a sound, he even held his breath. Despite his attempts, however, the scout turned his way and began to rifle through the bush next to the Zaterran. A foot to the left and the man would've found him.

Reptile breathed a sigh of relief...

... too early. The man placed his hand on a scaly shoulder and muttered, "Huh?"

Reptile gave up on hiding and sprang out the bush. Trying his best to ignore his numbing arm, he pounced on the small man.

Reptile had killed humans before, and, in the process, learned that they're usually very cowardly; this skinny one most likely not an exception.

Confirming Reptile's prediction, the scout froze in fear when Reptile jumped him. Reptile didn't even have to pin him. The man just lay stiff as a board under the Zaterran, chest heaving as he panted with fear.

Reptile brought his face close to the Earthrealmer's and hissed, his noxious breath smothering the man.

Reptile brought his head back a bit and considered what to do with him; devour him or let him go? The Zaterran didn't know how long he'd be in Earthrealm, so eating now may be a necessity. However, since the treaty made with Earthrealm, the emperor encouraged absolute peace between the two realms' peoples. Besides, the man had little meat on his bones anyway.

"Hear me well, human," Reptile growled.

"I-Ingles?" the scout sputtered, confused.

"I will not harm you nor your village," he continued, "as long as you treat me similarly." The man still looked confused.

The raptor growled frustratingly. "You don't hurt me." Reptile said slowly and more than a little annoyed, "and I won't hurt you. Understand?" Damn language barriers.

The man frantically nodded and repeated a word sounding like "See." Reptile look it as a yes.

The Zaterran snarled as he finally released the terrified man. The man sprang up and hastened off, tripping over his feet as he did so. Reptile hissed at the retreating figure until he saw him no more.

The reptilian Outworlder didn't bother making camp that night. Despite his warning, he knew the Earthrealmers would be looking for him, so he just climbed up a tree--his arm was feeling much better--and laid on a large branch. He fell asleep surprisingly quickly and awoke unsurprisingly stiff.

He wasn't woken up by a nice ray of morning sunshine on his face. Instead, he was awoken by a creature sniffing his face. He opened his eyes to see a black nose in his face. He hissed and the creature sprang back as he sprang up into a squatting position.

It was a cat.

It was a big cat but a cat nonetheless. It was about as big as a large dog and spotted. Erron had mentioned something like it.

Jagmar? Jagshower? Jagwar? Jag-Jaguar! That's what it is called.

Erron said that jaguars are not friendly, but Reptile didn't see anything to fear from this one; truth be told, it almost seemed cute.

Reptile held his clawed hand out to the jaguar and clicked his tongue, trying to see if it would approach him. He just stayed poised in pouncing position, growling with its back slightly arched.

Reptile risked a step forward. That seemed to have been too close for the big cat, for it swiped a clawed paw at his outstretched hand. Reptile was fast enough to bring his hand out if harms way, but the jaguar was acting more hostile.

It stuck its head toward the raptor and roared loudly. Reptile looked insulted and retaliated by sticking his head out and roaring back at it, his spittle flying in its face.

The jaguar whimpered and mewed like a kitten and ran on off to another branch. Reptile growled in its direction and climbed down the tree.

Foolish beast. Next time I cross paths with it, it shall be my next meal.

The Saurian sat on the jungle floor and began contemplating his situation. He was in the jungle,--really not that much of a problem--he was lost in Earthrealm--that was a problem. He also had no idea how to return to Outworld; inter-realm travel was strictly limited to teleportation and portals, none of which he possessed.

He supposed he could just wait for someone from Outworld to retrieve him,--he was a skilled hunter so food wouldn't be an issue--but there was a village of disgruntled Earthrealmers after him, so he would rather be gone as soon as possible.

He was wheeling through many numerous, and some outrageous, plans of returning to Outworld--one of which included making his own teleportation amulet; yeah, right--when he heard/smelt the Earthrealmers coming

He scurried up his tree again, turned as invisible as he could, and waited for them. When they came into view he began to count; seven men, three armed with guns, the other four with machetes. As they walked, they occasionally placed crude, metal traps on the ground. They looked like giant, metal teeth and were poorly hidden under the jungle leaves hastily thrown on them.

How foolhardy. Reptile almost smiled at their idiocy. They seem to think they are combating a simple beast. Mayhaps I'll show them what they are really facing.

However, his attempts to scare the piss out of the grown men were interrupted by an ear-piercing, startling roar coming from somewhere quite close. And it wasn't a hostile roar, Reptile deduced.

No, that was a scream of pain.

Hello once again! Is it just me, or is Reptile one of the most underrated characters in all of Mortal Kombat? Expect me to make the most of his true awesomeness :)

Thanks to everyone leaving comments. I do read them and I really appreciate all of your positive feedback! Thanks a lot, and until the next chapter!

Hasta luego amigos!