Bud: A Guide To Dek's Sidekick Creature From Badlands

Bud was a small alien creature from Genna who became the unlikely companion of the young Yautja hunter Dek. Together with the cut-in-half android Thia, the trio took on hostile alien creatures and the Weyland-Yutani Corporation while forming a strong bond. Beware of spoilers about what happens at the end of Predator: Badlands in the second part of this article.

A Small Alien Creature

Bud (short for Buddy) first appeared on the Death Planet Genna while Dek and the synthetic Thia were attempting to cross a field of razor grass. The creature moved quickly and was able to roll through terrain that would have shredded most life forms. Her shell-like back provided protection, and she displayed curiosity and intelligence that set her apart from other native wildlife. Bud was not recorded in Weyland-Yutani's planetary databases, suggesting that she belonged to an undiscovered species. Dek and Thia referred to Bud as a female, indicating the creature was a she.

Teaming Up With Dek And Thia

Bud saved Dek and Thia when they were close to being devoured by a giant pod creature. She wedged herself between the monster's teeth, allowing Dek to gain the upper hand. Bud quickly bonded with Dek after marking him with her scent, a behavior that established a lasting connection. From that point on, she followed Dek and Thia across Genna, actively helping them survive. Bud learned from their behavior and even imitated some of their actions, demonstrating that she was far more intelligent than a simple animal.

Fighting Weyland-Yutani

As Dek's hunt escalated into open conflict with Weyland-Yutani's forces of synthetics, Bud became increasingly important. After losing all his Yautja gear, Dek crafted new organic armor and improvised weapons, setting out to recover Thia's upper body, which had been boxed and taken by the corporation. Bud helped Dek and Thia's lower half navigate hostile terrain and played a small but meaningful role during the final conflict on Genna. She assisted Thia in reconnecting her body and distracted Weyland-Yutani androids with her antics while wearing a stolen cape. Together, Dek, Thia, and Bud also freed the Kalisk from corporate captivity.

Connection With The Kalisk

It was later revealed that Bud was the offspring of the so-called unkillable Kalisk, the very creature Dek had been hunting. The Kalisk's appearance was shown to change with age, developing spine-like hair, a larger mouth, and much darker coloration. Because Bud had previously marked Dek, the adult Kalisk recognized his scent and spared his life during their confrontation. Although the Kalisk possessed regenerative abilities, it was ultimately unable to recover from a freeze-grenade detonated inside its body by Tessa. Shortly before the creature's death, both Bud and Dek shared a brief bonding moment with it.

Final Fate Of Bud

By the end of Predator: Badlands, Bud had grown into a larger and more capable version of herself. She continued traveling with Dek and Thia as they left Genna behind. Bud later bit off the head of Dek's father Njohrr on Yautja Prime after Dek weakened him in combat. It was then implied that Dek would eventually form his own clan, though he would first have to confront his mother, who arrived in a massive ship. Bud's future remained uncertain, but her story suggested that she would continue to play an important role in Dek's life and the wider Predator universe.

Behind The Scenes

Bud was brought to life on screen by performer Rohinal Nayaran in Predator: Badlands. The character was generally well received by audiences, though some viewers noted similarities to other cute companion characters from modern science fiction franchises. In terms of merchandising, Bud appeared alongside Dek in the Funko Pop! "Dek with Bud" vinyl figure, which stood approximately 9 cm tall and depicted the duo together in a single package.

Conclusion

Bud served as both a loyal companion and a significant supporting character in Predator: Badlands. Her bond with Dek and Thia added humor and emotional depth to the story while linking the protagonists to the ecology of Genna and the Kalisk species. Together, Dek, Thia, and Bud effectively formed a new Wolf Pack, replacing the clan Dek had lost on Yautja Prime. By the end of the story, Dek appeared poised to become a powerful Beast Master, bonded to one of the strongest and most resilient creature species encountered in the Predator universe.

Tag Categories: Predator: Badlands Lore, Predator: Badlands Characters, Predator Hunt