Survival factor

"Survival Factor" by Charles V. De Vet is a gripping science fiction story where two human surveyors, Wallace and Saxton, find themselves stranded on a primitive planet, relentlessly hunted by an alien bloodhound. The story jumps into how humans can adapt and survive, and the challenges of meeting alien life during interstellar war. After their ship is caught by an alien tracking device, Wallace and Saxton have to make their way through a dangerous world, and they meet Al-fin, a local who speaks their language, making them wonder about his past and his people's survival. They find out that Al-fin's tribe has amazing intuition, which helps them stay alive. The story takes a turn when the darker side of survival is revealed, and the protagonists get a disturbing gift from Al-fin as they return to their world.