The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Dream Land

Authors Note: This story I have written may not be exact with the customs and culture founded by the Predator movies, comics or stories but I have tired to stay in the area of their beliefs and ways. I have brought in elements from each of the categories and have combined them into one. I do not own Predator. Updates will be regular and changes will be made if any suggestions are made for me. Pronunciations at bottom. Some of the mentioned items in the Yautja world are made up by me. Good Reading.

E.M.

Sya let out a giant sigh as Dhm’Ni and Lord Khupiee left. He had a sudden desire for his pillow, it was just there, in his room, being unused. He leans against the wall as Kh’Cho went back to healing Nala.

“Sya…” Kh’Cho softly clicks.

“Do not agonize, Kh’Cho. We all slipped up when leaving her unsupervised.” Sya answers. He rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes. He just wanted to slide under his covers and not wake until next cycle. “I however am going to apologize to you if I fall sleep.” He thrills. In his old age he was finding it harder and harder to stay awake when not on a hunt. When hunting he would never sleep but once he was on ship, he slept like a newborn.

“I think we all need some shut eye after this. This female will force any into exhaustion.”

“Her name is Nalani. The least we can do is honor her with her own name.” He said firmly. “Besides, I think any Ooman that can do what she had done can inevitably tire all who come into contact with her. For instance,” Sya rose from the wall with a grunt and walked towards the Medical Panel. “I have never laughed so hard in all my seasons. Do have any idea how many times she insulted Dhm’Ni in one minute! Well, Dhm’Ni seemingly recorded audio with his wrist computer so I am sure that we will hear it.” Kh’Cho just thrills in laugher.

“Did you witness her hit? Gods that was hard! Dhm’Ni flew in the air!”

“She is without a doubt strong, in many ways.” Sya says softly as he walks as close as he could to Nala. The same machines had gone back to work. He watches closely as one in particular was mending to a small cut on her shoulder. In one motion it would clean the wound of all filth and supply it with healing gel.

“How do you suppose she gained such scars, Sya? I have not seen a marked body like this since Lord Tonikum. He was truly a Yautja with story.”

“That he was Kh’Cho. I do regret Dhm’Ni not being able to meet his Grandfather, to see him in true form but then again it is a rare thing in his family. And Lord Tonikum did indeed have admiration from all for his scars. But this…” Sya chirps as he motions to Nala and looks back to Kh’Cho. “This was torture. I have seen many with marks such as these.”

“Torture? Surly not all could be from that?”

“No, of course not Kh’Cho. But those from being whipped are. The others I have not seen to well to tell.”

“And the others are a thing to see.” Kh’Cho barks. As he was watching over the monitor his eyes caught something odd. He zooms in to look at the base of her brain stem and it looked like a microbe or maybe a small implant was attached to it. He made in note to himself to do a more precise scan when she was done healing.

“Are they?” Sya asks taking Kh’Chos eyes from the screen.

“There is one that I have never seen before. If you can, look at her left buttocks. It seems something has bitten her. There is also a large circle scar on her lower back and four long scratches on her upper.” Sya moved around the shifting machines and made his way to a better position. He bends down a tad and looks up. And there they all were. Sya just had to bark as he gazed at her back. That one scar was undeniably made from something that had bit her. And from what he could tell it was from a large animal. He stood tall again and walked back to Kh’Cho.

“Something did in fact bite her. When she wakes I will have to ask her where it came from…or what it came from.” He jests. “By the way, when will she wake?” Sya hisses in anger. He was still a little mad with Kh’Cho for sedating her but Lord Khupiee did order him to.

“Well, it was enough to keep a small but full grown Yautja down for about half a day. I had given her a tranquilizer and a pain killer just before Lord Khupiee came in, yet she still woke. So I presumed that it would take more then that to get her down. Her injuries will be healed by then, maybe even by tomorrow, well actually today’s’ morning. Before she came, I actually thought that she could not be helped. Especially after Lord Khupiee but when she arrived, she was already in the process of restoring to health. Her body was already regenerating, blood platelets and cells beginning to renew.” Suddenly Nala started to cough making them both hold their breath but it didn’t last for too long. They both starred at her and then they remembered that an Ooman cannot breathe this air.

“How is she doing it?” Sya barks.

“I don’t know! I didn’t even think of it when she came in, she was breathing well.” He answers, Kh’Cho typed in a command and a few of the same scanners flew out. They whisked past the working machines and started to circle around her lungs. After a moment they came back and the image came into Kh’Chos screen. “Her lungs have adapted…”

“What?” Sya hisses as he turns and walked behind the Med Panel to look at the image.

“Look.” Kh’Cho points as Sya came beside him. “Her lungs are working normally but they are not absorbing most of the air. They are taking in what Oxygen she can but not the others. However, there is little Oxygen in this air so she is slowly suffocating.” Kh’Cho chirps. He moves away from Sya and strides to the same wall of drawers and opens one. He takes out a small vial, places it into an injector and then introduces it into Nala.

“What was that?” Sya questions.

“I put her in half stasis. It is meant to slow her breathing and heart rate, almost to nothing, so that her blood will not circulate as fast and therefore not need so much Oxygen. I will have to figure away to help her breathing when she wakes.”

“And speak.” Kh’Cho stops midway to the Med Panel and looks oddly at Sya. “I would guess it to be rather lonely for her if only Arbitrators and Elders can speak with her. Most of us cannot even understand Ooman let alone speak it. Most on this ship have a small understanding but not like me or Khupiee.” Kh’Cho nods his head but he didn’t go back to Sya, he turned and left the room saying he would be right back. Sya only grunted as he watched him leave. He was looking at Nala when a giant yawn came, he belted out a booming roar as his mandibles spread wide and every muscle tightened. He leaned back against a wall once more but the second he closed his eyes Kh’Cho came back in.

“I knew I had one some where!” He chirps loudly.

“One what?” Sya asks as he lifts himself from the wall.

“A translator.” He simply states but when Sya tilted his head he knew he didn’t understand. “A long time ago I was told that we needed a translator for when on an Ooman or some other, hunt but in mid development they told me to stop. Seems having Ooman translated for those who cannot understand it is way too easy. But I finished it without them knowing. It is highly experimental so I have no idea what it will do for her. It is meant for a Yautja.” He says as he walks back next to Sya. In his hand, held in a small glass dish, was a small rice sized device. “It is implanted into the brain by way of the right temple. It reads the sounds from the eardrum, translates it before it reaches the brain and then sends it. However it does not allow the person to speak in that tongue. Only listen. I will have to figure a way to get her to speak Yautja.”

“Why not alter her?”

“Alter? Like surgically?” Kh’Cho asks and Sya grunts yes. “Well…it will take me some time to hatch out just how to do that, so for now I will give her the translator so she can at least understand us.” Sya couldn’t hold in another yawn. He shook his head at his sleepy state. “Sleep if you need it Sya. If she wakes I am sure that you will arouse from the sounds of her beating me up.” They both thrill in laugher. It was probably true.

Dhm’Ni was stretching his lower left mandible as he waited for the lift to take him to his deck. The hit Nala gave him did in fact damage him. But no matter how he lengthened it or rotated it, it was still stiff. He gave up his attempt to fix it when the doors opened to his residence deck. Dhm’Ni sighs in displeasure when he saw everyone was still out side their rooms and chattering like pups.

“Get to bed!” Dhm’Ni barks as he made his way to his room, but stops when Dyne steps in front of him.

“She can understand us…” Dyne hisses. He was the first who came into contact with Nala when she was in The Ka'rik'na Hall and found it odd that she could understand him when she asked what Ooman meant.

“She knows very few words. In our conversations she picked up a few things.” Dhm’Ni hisses back. He wanted to go to bed and did not want to deal with Dyne right now. They were always in conflict with one another. No one but they know why, nevertheless ever since they were pups they never got along.

“YOUR conversations?” Dyne thrills. “Chatting with pray now are we or are we trying to get on her…good side…Ooman Fucker.” He hisses. Dhm’Ni lowers his head and emits a deep, threatening growl. Everyone backed up a little as they smelt rage in Dhm’Nis’ musk. They all know that Dhm’Ni was a force to deal with when he as angry. He inherited it from his mother. But even with Dhm’Ni always trying his best to keep his anger down, he let his rage show the moment he was called an Ooman Fucker. Long ago laws were set that made mating with Oomans strictly prohibited. To be accused of being an Ooman Fucker is the same as being called dishonorable.

“That is enough!” Nder marches in between the two. “Lord Khupiee ordered us to bed and that is what we will do. And as for you!” He barks as he turns full onto Dyne. “We all know how you feel of the Ooman being here. What was the expression you used…” Dhm’Ni instantly stiffed at Nders’ words. His eyes went wide and his mandibles slack. He wished that Nder wasn’t going to say what he thought he was going to say, but he did. “Enticing, wasn’t it? Do not harass one who does not have the same desires you do, Dyne.” Dyne scoffs at this. Him…attracted to the Ooman? Dynes thoughts were broken up when he remembered watching her as she danced with the Hard Meat. The way her body moved and how she so easily killed it. Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to make of Dyne when his eyes looked practically glassed over. And then a scent crept into Dhm’Nis’ nose, he knew that it was Dynes mating musk. Instantly Dhm’Ni growled again.

“You will never touch her!” Dhm’Ni hisses. Nder turns and looks at Dhm’Ni but starts to laugh.

“Perhaps the desires are shared.” Nder thrills but stops when Dhm’Ni strikes his shoulder.

“When the Elders agree to her being in our clan, I highly doubt that she would ever choose you, Dyne, to be her mate. And I would never allow such a revolting male like you to ever touch her.” Dhm’Ni didn’t know why he was being so protective. For one thing he would never allow Dyne to handle her. He felt pity for any female that would mate with Dyne. In some eyes he was honorable, powerful and even influential. But Dhm’Ni felt the complete opposite.

“Hulij-bpe S'yuit-de Lou-dte Kalei!” (Crazy Pathetic Female!) Dyne roars. Dhm’Ni was about to challenge him but Nder held him back.

“Tomorrow, when we wake, we will deal with this but for now I think the musk in here is too thick and we all need to go to our rooms.” Dyne swiftly turns his back to both Nder and Dhm’Ni, insulting them as he made his way to his room. Slowly the hall emptied leaving Nder and Dhm’Ni.

“He and some others find her tantalizing and wish to actually mate with her Dhm’Ni.” Nder began. “But I do not think that will be allowed.”

“Why do you say that?” Dhm’Ni asks as he calms down.

“I was with well…everyone, when we were watching the Ooman kill the Queen. And then the warrior but when she attacked Lord Khupiee, I immediately noticed a sudden rise in musk. But some of the attending Arbitrators were there and told all in the room to watch their musk. And that mating with the Ooman is not permissible until further notice. If she is accepted then that question will be raised but not a moment sooner.” Nder answers as he started for the lift. His room was on the deck up, he was only down here to talk with Dhm’Ni but after what just happened, he would talk with him later.

“If she survives the night you mean.” Dhm’Ni said softly, making Nder turn around. He tilts his head and thrills in question. “She is with Kh’Cho and I think she is not doing to well. Did you see all the blood from her in The Ka'rik'na Hall? Wouldn’t it be befitting for her to survive and kill how many Kainde Amedha and then a Queen, and fall because of our inactions?” Dhm’Ni hisses as he turns to his door. It swishes open and closes before Nder can get a word in. Dhm’Ni just stood there for a moment. He never thought that anyone would want her for a mate but he can understand why. She did show a level of skill never seen of a prey species but she is prey, an Ooman. He quickly dropped all thought when he saw his bed, cover half opened from before, ready and waiting. He could swear that he can hear it whispering for him to come and sleep. He promptly stripped, put his Awu’asa on its stand and headed for his bed. He drifted his hand down to his scar on his pelvis. He prayed to Paya every night that he wouldn’t dream, that he wouldn’t have that same nightmare but he still did, every night. As he slipped under the covers and fell to his back he roars and sat up. His tear scar was throbbing in pain. He cursed himself for being so slow. The sting was climbing up his spine and down his legs. The hurt traveled around his entire body, from forehead to the palms of his feet. He had to steady his breathing and wait for the pain to go away. Once it was tolerable he turns onto his stomach and buried his head into his pillow. Slowly his eyes glide shut and he fell into his hell called sleep.

It was always peaceful in the gardens. The grounds were full of rare and even extinct flowers from all over the Home World. A sound of a large wave from the pond, filled with an assortment of fish, crashed on the shore. A soft wind wafts through and brings in the delicate scent of all the flowers into the nose of a three seasons young Dhm’Ni as he pursues a bug as it jumps from petal to petal. Stalking his pray as it as it makes its’ way around the grounds.

“Dhm’Ni…Dhm’Ni my sweet come here.” A beautiful yet strong voice echoed through the grounds. Instantly Dhm’Ni jumped up from inspecting the bug that had started to eat a flower and ran to his mother. Ni’Atni kneeled down in full Awu’asa and spread her arms ready for her pup. With all his speed a small form sprinted to her. The thumping from his feet on the ground was just a short warning to the coming jump. At once Dhm’Ni leaped into the air and fell into Ni’Atnis’ awaiting arms. She clamped down as she made contact with her son, stood tall and started to purr.

“Mother, your home early.” A tiny voice came from Dhm’Ni. He wrapped his hands, as best he could, around her massive neck and squeezed with all his might.

“Yes I am, and careful Dhm’Ni, you don’t want to suffocate me with your strong arms do you?” Ni’Atni thrills. Dhm’Ni just barks and gives her a little more room to breathe, not a lot, but enough. Suddenly they both look towards the lake as they hear Det-Onda’Ni roar. He was standing on a rock that was a few feet away from shore and had caught a large fish with his hands. He was older then Dhm’Ni by five seasons and a considerable larger size. He stared into the eyes on the flat fish with disgust as he held it in his hands. With out a second to spare, Det cracked the fish’s neck in two. “Det, Det come here.” Ni’Atni barks crossly. Det simply threw the dead carcass into pond as he jumped off the rock and made his way to his mother.

“Mother.” He says as he bows to her.

“Det, what did I tell you about hunting the fish?” She asks, but Det remains silent. “I told you that you cannot hunt them without either taking a trophy for your time, or eat it. And what did you do with that one I just saw in your hands?” Det lowers his eyes to the ground. Ni’Atni growls at her son for his disobedience for not answering the question and cowardice for not owning up to his deeds. “DET.” She barks.

“I did neither Mother.” He finally yelps. A rustling in the bushes makes Ni’Atni look up from her son and stare into the hedge, making some of her dark brown colored tresses fall from her back. It couldn’t be possible for someone else to be here. They were in the private gardens, no one but their family can be here. But she couldn’t see anything, guessing that it was one of those stupid birds. Dhm’Ni shifted in Ni’Atnis arms until she was carrying him on her hip, one hand holding his bottom, letting her other go free. Dhm’Ni started to purr as he rested his head on her shoulder. He never felt as safe as when he was in his mothers’ arms. At night he would secretly whimper for her if she was ever gone. This past week had been hard on him and he reveled to have her hold him once again.

“Never misuse pray Det. And never make them suffer as you just did.” Dhm’Ni had been looking down at the flowers, searching again for his lost bug pray. But something was off. All the bugs and animals that were usually here, rusting around in the foliage, had disappeared. He raised his head to look to the sky but he didn’t see the sky...

“MOTHER!” Dhm’Ni hisses in fear. Instantly Ni’Atni twisted around and saw a large group of Yautja, all covered from head to toe in black Alsn, even covering their faces with a black shapeless mask. Alsn was almost a second skin that was worn, if one wanted it, underneath an Awu’asa but it was usually meant to be used when a hunter didn’t want to bring an Awu’asa or weapons. But there were over 15 males standing there in Alsn, with plenty of weapons.

“RUN!” Ni’Atni roars as she throws Dhm’Ni at Det. But when Det caught him, he just stood there and watched. Dhm’Ni struggled out of his brothers hands and turned just as Ni’Atni charged the group. She extended her wrist blades and swiftly took out her combat staff as she pummeled into the group. Her sons watched in horror as she started to slaughter them one by one. Cutting through their bodies with ease and slicing off heads. But she couldn’t get them all. Ni’Atni let out a roar in pain as one of them stabbed her in the back with their wrist blades and then left them in her, jutting out her belly. Dhm’Ni couldn’t let this happen. He tore away from Det and started for the one that had hit his mother. He leaped on top him and forced him to fall to the ground. The black figure simply hit him with one slap, making Dhm’Ni tumble off. Ni’Atni flew into a rage when she saw her son hit the ground. She pulled the blades out from her back at threw them at the same black form. But as she did, she left her side exposed and she was again hit with someone’s wrist blades. She shrieks and growls as the blood seeped from her new wound. She weaved around, making the blades come out from her side, and she cut off the head of her assailant. Dhm’Ni stood tall and stared once again as his mother was hit. He ran for the one closest to her and jumped on his back. The black form grabbed him by the foot with one hand and threw Dhm’Ni to the ground onto his back. The black figure extended his combat staff and raised it above Dhm’Ni. Ni’Atni charged as the black form thrust the staff down, but was a little too late. She hit the form just as the point of the staff entered Dhm’Ni, right at his pelvis. But it didn’t enter him completely, as Ni’Atni took the form down, she forced the staff to move along with them, making it travel along Dhm’Nis’ waist. He howls in agony, but not from the wound. He watched his mother and his attacker fall to the ground and he just watched as the remaining black forms converged on the fallen twosome. He could make out spurts of green blood in between the legs of the black figures as he laid there and he could hear his mother growl and roar as she was repeatedly stabbed and pierced with all the weapons the black forms carried. And then suddenly…she stopped screeching and the black forms stopped moving. Time seemed to stop as all the figures shift away from an unmoving Ni’Atni. Dhm’Ni couldn’t move as his eyes fell onto his bloodied and motionless mother. He couldn’t even feel his wound, he couldn’t even breathe. With strength he never knew of, he lifted himself from the blood soaked ground and limped to his mother. He fell just beside her head and looked at his mothers face. Her eyes were still open. Her blue and golden windows frosted over by death.

“Mother…” He yelps softly, but nothing. “MOTHER!” He roars again as he grabs the choler of her chest plate, but still gets nothing. So he starts to pull and shake, trying to lift her up into the air but he was too weak. But he was still shaking her body with all he had. All that did, however, was make more blood fall from her wounds and her head to shake a little. He stopped as he felt a burn by his waist and he looks down to a gaping wound. The pain started out small but soon grew to be unbearable. He pitched back, falling to the ground holding his bloody and open wound. And he yells…

“MOTHER!” Dhm’Ni roars as he sits up on his bed. He had to look around for a moment to figure out where he was, and soon found that he was in the same tiny cramped room. His body was still shaking from the dream, that nightmare. A thin layer of sweat covered him from tip to bottom, incasing him a layer of wet. Suddenly a pain started from his waist and he threw back his covers, exposing himself to the cool air. He seethes as he places a hand on his scar from so many seasons ago. He had this dream, this nightmare, many times before and his scar had hurt before but never has the wound hurt like this. He shuffles off of the bed and heads to the bathroom. The door swishes open and Dhm’Ni turns on the lights, grabs a small wash cloth and goes to sink. He taps a little silver button and from a large hole in the wall a line of cool water starts to pour. He quickly soaks the cloth and places it against his scar. He shuts his eyes as the cool water hits his skin and starts to flow down his waist. He sighs as the pain starts to slowly and mercilessly fade.

BEEPBOOP

Dhm’Ni groaned as he hears the COM-link signal that someone wishes to speak with him. He yawns aloud as he steps out of the bathroom, he turns the lights on and walks up to the COM-link. The screen is touch sensitive and had a large emerald circle with a symbol that reads ‘accept’ and a crimson one that reads ‘deny’. He swiftly accepts the COM and Sya pops up on the screen.

“Sorry to wake you so early Dhm’Ni.” Sya clicks as both he and Dhm’Ni bow to say good morning.

“So early?” Dhm’Ni turns his head to his time reader, his clock, and it reads that it is the ‘fourth and one half hour’. Dhm’Ni starts to laugh at himself for being up so early. “I was already up Sya.” He says as he turns back to the screen.

“It is the nightmares that always plague us, is it not?” Sya softly says. He knew that Dhm’Ni suffered from nightmares. Not everyone did though. Ever since Ni’Atni, Dhm’Ni had never had a good night sleep. He would always wake up screaming for her. “Nala is healed.” Sya chirps happily. Dhm’Ni immediately perked up with a smile. “Almost to 100 percent. So I suggest that when she wakes, she should have some…” Sya paused and started to laugh.

“What?” Dhm’Ni barks.

“I was going to say she should have some friendly faces around but never mind. She should have someone around her that she at least knows. How she feels of that person…doesn’t really matter.” Sya teases. “I have already awoken your Father, with a lot of trouble, and he says that he will meet you here.”

“Is she awake now?”

“No. But we will wake her when you two arrive. It would be a waste to keep her a sleep when I have so many questions for her” Sya slyly adds.

“Questions?” Dhm’Ni asks but Sya just starts to thrill instead of answer.

“That’s right, you haven’t seen them! She has a great number of other stories on her body that you or your Father never saw yesterday. I am itching to hear them. So get here quick but do not dress in your Awu’asa. She might be apprehensive of it. She may consider you having armor on means you wish to fight her again.”

“She challenged me Sya!” Dhm’Ni defends himself. He never would have fought her unless she didn’t challenge him first.

“I know Dhm’Ni! I am just saying that we don’t want that to happen again now do we?” Sya asks and Dhm’Ni shakes his head ‘no’. “Good. Get here soon.” Sya says just as the screen goes black. Dhm’Ni quickly makes his way to his Awu’asa stand and takes off the belt. He is gong to have some way of defending himself from her. Who knows what she will do to him now! He then puts on a casual loincloth and a pair of metal sandals.

Dhm’Ni was grateful as he left his room and saw that the hall was empty. He quietly makes his way to the lift and waits for it to come. But to his dismay, someone had heard him.

“Off to see your little Ooman?” Dyne hisses from down the hall. But Dhm’Ni stays silent. He knows that all Dyne is going for is a fight and nothing more. As the lift doors open and he steps in, he does not turn around but keeps his back to Dyne as the doors close.

“Healers Deck.” Usually the lift would stop every now and then, to pick of other passengers but it was, in reality, very early in the morning, so it was a direct route. Everyone was still asleep, sleep is essential to keep up ones energy to hunt and fight.

Meanwhile, Sya was rummaging through all the drawers and cupboards around the entire healers deck and it was getting very irritating to Kh’Cho.

“Can I help you find something?” Kh’Cho barks.

“Perhaps. Do you have any Alsn?”

“Umm, I may have some white healing Alsn but I do not have hunting Alsn.” Kh’Cho answers back.

“That will be fine.” Sya says as he starts back towards Nala. When Kh’Cho was finished with healing her and implanting the translator, he lowered her back down to the table. Sya thought that her scars are absolutely beautiful and will stand out brilliantly on her peach skin. Kh’Cho had swiftly left the room and a few minutes later returned with five large bundles of white Alsn. It was applied on to the skin in thick strips. Once it was layered on, and made contact with another part of Alsn, it would form into one piece. Sya grasps the collection and stands next to Nala. He begins with one leg and slowly starts to unravel it like a long bandage up her leg and afterward the other. Then he cuts one bundle in half and does each arm, but as he was covering her left arm, he took up her hand and looked at her wrist. With his thumb he softly strokes three thin scars and sympathetically shakes his head. Seems suicide can hit even the strongest. He finishes up her arms and starts on her abdomen. He carefully wraps her chest and beasts for the reason that she is going to be a little tender for the next few hours. He then starts to wrap her stomach and waist but stops as he hears the door swish open.

“Lord Khupiee.” Kh’Cho barks to the entering form. Lord Khupiee was in the middle of a yawn as he entered but still tried to say good morning, all that came out was gibberish.

“Kh’Cho, can you finish this for me?” Sya asks as he leaves Nalas’ side. Kh’Cho nods, takes his place and resumes covering her lower half. “I wish to speak with you.” Sya growls as he takes Lord Khupiee by the arm and leads him out. “Now, you are going to be pure with me! Just what is going through you head?”

“Why I do not now what you could mean.” Lord Khupiee answers mockingly, but decided not to kid anymore when Sya roars in his face. “A lot of thinking is going through my head Sya.”

“And at what C’ntlip induced moment did you decide to bring her into our clan?” Sya hisses. He was happy, ecstatic actually, that Nala was now in their clan. He just didn’t like that Lord Khupiee didn’t include him in the decision. He would have pulled in her favor but he was Lord Khupiees second, he should have been there.

“The very moment I was called to the Bridge and I saw the island we were on exploding into nothing the thought came to me, you said her people abandoned her and left her to die. If they cannot appreciate a warrior like her then they do not deserve to have her.”

“And we do?” Sya questioned. He completely agreed with him but he wanted to hear him say it.

“It is not that we deserve her Sya. It is that she deserves us.” Sya went silent and just stared into Lord Khupiees eyes. He could tell when he was lying, his left eye twitched but he wasn’t twitching today. They both looked to the lift as he doors open and Dhm’Ni walk out.

“That took a while!” Sya teases. Dhm’Ni nods good morning to his Father as he walks to them. “And I warned you not to dress in armor.” He hisses. Dhm’Ni looks down to his belt and then back up to Sya with one brow rose.

“You expect me to be in the same room as her and not be ready to be attacked?” He asks seriously but they just laughed. Dhm’Ni shook his head as he turns from them and walks into the healers. Kh’Cho was done with bandaging Nala and had even cut it just at her bellybutton to give her movement. They say good morning to each other as Kh’Cho walks back behind his Med Panel.

“Now we wake her?” Lord Khupiee questioned as he and Sya made their way in. He sees Kh’Cho nod. “How?”

“I can reverse the sedative I gave to her and she should wake up almost instantly.”

“She should?” Dhm’Ni barks.

“I don’t know how fast it will be. Considering that it took at least 30 seconds for the second dose of tranquilizer to take affect, I really don’t know.” Kh’Cho says as he takes out a small vial from the wall. As Kh’Cho went to stand by Nala, Dhm’Ni inadvertently took a step back. Lord Khupiee and Sya start to thrill in laugher.

“Are you really that afraid of her?” Lord Khupiee teases.

“You say fear, I say getting ready.” Dhm’Ni bluntly states. “Who do you truly think she will jump? The one she believes did her wrong or the one closest?” Both Sya and Lord Khupiee look back to Nala just as Kh’Cho injected her and they too took a small step back. Even Kh’Cho scurried away when he was finished and took cover behind his Med Panel.

After a few minutes still nothing happened. She remained motionless. Everyone’s musk smelt of tension and even apprehension as they waited for her to wake but still she didn’t move.

“What is wrong?” Dhm’Ni barks, startling everyone. He walks beside Kh’Cho and looks at the Med Panel. He had an ‘unfastened’ education of the Healers equipment, everyone had to but because of who he is, he must have a full understanding within a few seasons. Both Sya and Lord Khupiee watch and follow Dhm’Ni and continued to watch him until they started to hear cracking. Together they look back to Nala and found her starting to move.

She had completely forgotten everything as she woke. Like most do as they wake every morning. For a split second everything was perfect, nothing was wrong and the world was heaven. She half expected to wake up to her room, to smell the sweet honey scent from the maple syrup she made in her house and to even see the soft rays of the sun push through her eye lids as they shown through her widows. She instinctively started to stretch, arching her back and extending her limbs to make them all crack from the nights sleep.

Dhm’Ni moved away from Kh’Cho as he watched Nala. He slowly made his way out from behind the Med Panel and made it half way to the side of his Father when Nala took in a deep breath. She didn’t know those smells. Everything was different, she wasn’t in her room! She went rigid and sat up, with her eyes still shut and took in another gulp of air. She smelt those same two scent from before but there were also two other ones, ones she never held before. But she was concentrating on the rain and vanilla. She violently opened her eyes and right in front of her was Dhm’Ni. He didn’t know what to do. She lowered her head and growled in her throat as she pushed her self up. But she couldn’t really do it and wobbled a bit. Her body was still coming off the tranquilizers and was still a little floppy. But she made it up and was sitting on her feet. She used all she had and lunged at Dhm’Ni. He readied himself for her even before she knew what she was going to do and caught her in mid air. He swung around with her in hand and slammed her against the near wall. Nala yelped in pain but soon went to work scratching and kicking Dhm’Ni.

“ENOUGH!” Dhm’Ni roars in her face. Immediately Nala stopped struggling, she was having a hard time figuring out how she understood him and wondering why she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

“Careful with her.” Say said softly. Dhm’Ni involuntary looked to Sya and didn’t see Nala grab hold of a small knife from his belt and slip it into the sleeve of her new garment. Nala whimpered as her head was suddenly hit with an intense migraine, her eyes flutter, her head flew back from the hurt and she suddenly lost conscious. Dhm’Ni, at seeing her suddenly fall limp, picked her up with his hands and took her back o the white slab. “What happened?” Sya barks as Kh’Cho strides over to the table. He uses a hand held scanner and looks at her body.

“My guess is her body still needs rest, or the reversal didn’t completely work.” He answers. Once he was done scanning her, he walks back to the Med Panel and looks over the new images. “Her body simply went into overdrive and come to a standstill. I am worried that when she wakes again she will be even more violent and possibly hurt someone.”

“I agree.” Sya said suddenly. “I think she needs to calm down before we tell her of her new evolvement with our clan.” Lord Khupiee nods and looks back to Nala. Dhm’Ni hadn’t taken his eyes off of her when he put her down. He stared at Nalas’ face, as if trying to remember it, tracing her features. Her eyes, her strange nose and lips. He never really looked at his Ooman pray. He had never been so close to one the he wasn’t about to kill and skin. The males and female features are almost exactly the same, same structure, same bone and even the same skin tone. Dhm’Ni had heard of some hunters saying the skin color was different to each land and even Sya said once that the Oomans on her old world can look completely different from the next. But Dhm’Ni never saw anything other then the peach skinned ones. Maybe once this was all over and done with he can go back and hunt the other colors. They might be a better challenge.

“Place her into one of the observation rooms. We can watch her as she wakes.” Lord Khupiee said. But Dhm’Ni wasn’t really listening. “It will give me time to summon all on the ship and tell them of the new developments. But first I think we should have a meeting to discuss everything. So quickly get her to the room and we shall get together.” He said but Dhm’Ni didn’t move. He was still gazing at her face. “Dhm’Ni?” Lord Khupiee clicked, but nothing. “DHM’NI!” He finally roars and now Dhm’Ni looked to his father. “Get her to the observation room, now.” He orders. With a nod he scoops Nala in his arms and leaves with Kh’Cho in tail.

Kh’Cho ran a little a head and pushed for the lift. Dhm’Ni waited for only a minute before it came and was grateful that it was empty.

“Deck 24: Uninterrupted.” Dhm’Ni said as he and Kh’Cho entered. Dhm’Ni ordered the lift to make a continuous route to deck 24 with out interruptions. He didn’t want to even think of what might happen if the door would open to a pack of Yautja. Kh’Cho was standing in front of Dhm’Ni and was holding her hand.

“What are you doing?” Dhm’Ni asked hesitantly.

“Checking her pulse,” Kh’Cho barks bluntly. “Her breathing has been off for the past few hours, erratic and uneven. But I gave her something that should help until I find something to completely fix the problem.” Dhm’Ni didn’t get to ask anything else when Nala started to stir in his hands. She was whimpering and moaning like she was in pain, but Kh’Cho healed her. Soon thought she quieted down and he doors to the deck opened. Deck 24 was a spilt between the supplies and what could be construed as a jail. But jailing is not a thing done in Yautja society. The rooms here were meant to hold people in yes, but not permanently. It was usually meant as either a light punishment or for observation. If a healer thought you may have a sickness from hunting you would be sequestered until you healed, died, or was proven to be with out sickness. The observations rooms are quite large in size, a good 20 by 20 foot square. The walls, except for the wall with to door, was of one way glass so that those observing can watch the one inside without the one inside knowing where the said watchers are. The room is completely bare of most necessities. It is intended that all excrement is take to be tested. There is only a small cot and a table with a few chairs. Nothing more.

“Do you wish to test her?” Dhm’Ni asks as he and Kh’Cho walk along to hallway. There are only two doors along the entire deck. One to the giant supply rooms for all to use and another to the observation rooms.

“No, when she wakes and is more…compliant, I will take and do the necessary tests.” They stop at the door and Kh’Cho opens it with a code. Some doorways and rooms were locked with a code, there are some places, on every ship, that are not meant for all to see. Dhm’Ni swiftly brings her in and they walk into the first room. Dhm’Ni quickly but carefully places her down onto the cot and almost ran out of the room.

“Do you stay or do I?” Dhm’Ni asks.

“My guess is I stay, who else is better to watch her. And you need to get to the meeting.”

“What meeting?”

“Your father said that he should have a meeting with all the Arbitrators, you and Sya before he summons all on board. But you weren’t listening…” Kh’Cho chirps with a small smirk. “Go now or be late.” Dhm’Ni nods to Kh’Cho as he starts for the door out.

“I apologize for awakening you all.” Lord Khupiee chirped to all the awake and grumpy Arbitrators. “Nala had awakened and again attacked Dhm’Ni.” Everyone stared to laugh as Lord Khupiee made a face as he said ‘again’.

“She is aggressive, isn’t she?” Pakka chirps, almost sounding pleased. Lord Khupiee looks to his brother, but stays silent as he thinks over his brothers’ new view of the Ooman.

“We decided to place her in an observation room, until she calms down. I do not want her killing my son for a vendetta that may be righted when she learns of her now being in the Ehre Clan. I sent Dhm’Ni and Kh’Cho to watch over her until we hatch out just what needs to be said when I summon the ship.” Lord Khupiee didn’t get to finish when Dhm’Ni came strolling in. “What are you doing here?” But as Dhm’Ni opened his mouth Lord Khupiee raised a hand to silence him, “You are here now, no point in changing that.”

“Just what is it that you find so important for us to hatch out?” Miy’Hota groaned.

“I was thinking that all of you had some concerns that you think need to be raise about the Ooman being here, that you may think the ship need to know. I am going to summon them and tell them everything and I do not wish to miss a thing.” Instantly all started to fidget with their questions.

“How is she to survive here?” One asked.

“How are the males going to react to her being here? Her being the only female and all.” Another said.

“Who is to be her caretaker? Where will she stay?”

“Can she be challenged? Or even spar?”

“Is she to be trained?” Lord Khupiee slams his fist on the table and roars at a defining tenor. Everyone quieted down and looked back to a flustered Lord Khupiee.

“Let’s just start with the ones about Nalani herself shall we?” He didn’t think they would be so forwards with the inquiries but he got what he was asking for.

“How can an Ooman survive here?” M’Ho asked first.

“I would think she will do just fine. She will need to be educated in the ways of Yautja society and maybe even trained but with the skill we saw earlier, I do not think a lot will be needed.” Lord Khupiee answered.

“I will teach her.” Sya barks. “She will need to know how to read and write, know our customs, our laws, our hunt and I take responsibility for that.” They all nod in agreement. Sya was an amazing teacher. Before Lord Khupiee became Clan Leader and Sya his second, he was a trainer for those going on the Chiva. For years all of his students came back victorious. He had only ever lost five, at most, and he even predicted that they would fail. ‘The arrogant and stupid deserve to die with such attitudes’, he would always say at the begging of a new training season.

“And as to the fact of her being the only female aboard,” Rathe began. “I think that until she is accepted by the Elders, mating should be forbidden.”

“I entirely agree with that.” Dhm’Ni barks making everyone look at him oddly. “Some of the males have already expressed an interest.”

“Then any mating will be prohibited until she is accepted.” Lord Khupiee chirps.

“Who is to be her caretaker? She cannot be alone at any time.” Rathe adds.

“I suppose that Sya would be up for the task.” Lord Khupiee says bluntly. Sya just tilts his head in question. “You are the most ‘up-to-date’ with the Oomans and all that entails so I guessed that you would love to have her in your care.”

“That I would.” Sya thrills. He could finally get all his questions answered. “But where is she to be housed?”

“Housed?” Lord Khupiee asks.

“You cannot expect her to stay in the observation rooms her whole life do you?” Bakkub finally joined in. “And you cannot think her to stay in the Unblood decks? By law she is a Young Blood and should room on the Young Blood decks.” Dhm’Ni twists his head to Bakkub. “We don’t even have room for her to house alone. You practically packed the DropShip full when you left. We have no room for her, unless she bunks with someone.”

“I know of a few males that would care for her.” Dh’Kn says slyly.

“If you are talking of Dyne I will not allow that!” Dhm’Ni roars.

“Then perhaps she should bunk with you?” Dhm’Ni opens his eyes wide and slowly turns his head to his father. “Once you two meet on a more favorable ground I am sure you two would get along nicely.” Lord Khupiee jests.

“Are you kidding?” Dhm’Ni asks in a stoic tone.

“I am not.” Lord Khupiee barks. “Nalani stays with you. She is a Young Blood, so she stays with the Young Bloods. She will spar and can be challenged and deliver challenges.”

“What of her judgment?” Pakka asks.

“All seven Elders have been summoned and will be leaving the Home World within a few days with another, smaller, DropShip of the Ehre Clan. They will meet us about half way there and in between now and then I hope that she will go on a hunt or two, so we can see her in action. And so that when we all testify, either for her or against her, we will have grounds for our own judgment.”

“How is she to communicate?” Inkle added.

“Kh’Cho implanted her with a translator.” Sya answered. “It only works one way though. She can understand us but cannot talk Yautja. He has already stared in a plan to alter her surgically so she can speak and hear.” Sya stopped suddenly when he watched Dhm’Ni leaned on the table with an elbow to hold his head. “What is it Dhm’Ni?”

“Why my...hwy...umm...Me?” He finally gets out.

“Would you prefer her be in with Dyne?” Rathe thrills. “I was there in the galley with him and a lot of others. He was impressed to say the least.”

“FINE!” Dhm’Ni growls. “I will not have that disgrace of a Yautja handle her, in any way.”

“Are there any other concerns?” Lord Khupiee barks. Everyone looked to the others but they all were quiet. “Very well. I will get Ykas’e to summon them all to The Ka'rik'na Hall but at a better time, I do not want cranky hunters getting the news that they have a new Ooman clan member. Once she is cleared by Kh’Cho and I alone tell her that she is now here to stay, she will get everything done for her new life.” Lord Khupiee nods and all the other stand and start for the door. “Shower and get ready. At the eighth hour we will all meet and then go to Nala.”

“Dhm’Ni.” Sya called out. Dhm’Ni was in a stupor as he walked from the room. He never heard Sya call him. There is going to be an Ooman in his room, not even that, in his bed. He’s going to have to sleep in a hammock the whole way home! He doesn’t want to be that close with her! She hates him, right? All she has done is attack him. It is expected but after a while it’s just gonna get annoying. “Dhm’Ni, stop!” Sya roars. Dhm’Ni finally looked back to Sya. All he could muster was a brow raise in response to him. “Do not worry Dhm’Ni. It will all be ok. You two just need to talk. You got along before, she only started to dislike you when you knocked her out.” He thrills in laugher but Dhm’Ni remains emotionless. “When she calms we will talk with her and she will be alright Dhm’Ni. Now, go and get what rest you can before the summoning. And by the way, just because he missed it now doesn’t mean you are not going to play your recording of the day.” Dhm’Ni barks as he remembers about that.

“You are uhh…going to be amused.” Dhm’Ni chirps. “I can assure you that. I think I need to go and sleep. And hope to Paya that she hates me enough to refuse to stay with me.”

“Are you so sure she hates you?”

“How cans she not?”

“Just speak with her. Ooman females need to be um…” Sya paused and started to roll around a clawed hand, trying to remember a word but it just never came. It’s just on the tip of his tooth. “I don’t want to say persuaded but talked to. Just promise to me that you will try. I and I think EVERYONE does not want to deal with an angry female. Ooman or not!” Sya ends as he starts to walk way.

“I promise.” Dhm’Ni hesitantly barks.

Authors Note: It may be considerably shorter then my last and it may not have a lot of action like my last but I like it. Gives background and that’s what I like in a story. And for those keeping track, but I’m guessing not, it is 4:10 AM. Screw sleep, insomnia works for me!

Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6, 9 & 10.)

Tonikum_Taun Eik Cum

Alsn_Als In

Hulij-bpe S'yuit-de Lou-dte Kalei Yeah...Good luck with that.