The History of Tomorrow

The History of Tomorrow

Grasp

Authors note: I claim no ownership of the Predator franchise. Warning: Yautja/Ooman pairing, descriptions of sexual intercourse and murder/death, and bad language. I will be using some information previously stated in ‘The Ripple of a Stone’, if any questions, please email me. Pronunciations at bottom. Good reading!

E.M.

“” “” “” “”

Aaron’s knee bounces in nervousness on the grass as he and the other twenty-four kids are waiting for the Caretaker to come back. The cool breeze is welcome to all of them as they have been stuck in the detox center for too many days, the C’ntlip slowly leaving their bodies for good. His head moves from side to side, looking at everyone to make sure that they are still awake. He doesn’t want to know what would happen if Kella comes back to find one asleep. Aaron runs a softly shaking hand through his blonde hair, hoping it would calm him for when he sees her again. But as his eyes roam the sidewalk to find her and another man coming towards them, he can’t help but let his heart beat faster then ever thought possible. He has to remark that when he first met Caretaker Kella, he was very afraid of her. But with the time he had with her and with what she did for him and the others, his fear had turned to admiration, and now he has completely fallen in love with her.

Aaron motions to the others and they stand up, anticipating the Caretaker to turn down her small walk way to speak to them. But when she doesn’t even look at them, her attention firmly with the plump older man beside her, Aaron is baffled at what she is doing. He nearly yells out the question when the two turn down to the house beside Caretaker Kellas, but he holds himself back. Aaron strains his ears, turning his head ever so slightly but gets only the word ‘purchase’ from the man before he and the Caretaker enter the house.

“What’s going on?” Someone asks from behind him.

“I don’t know, but we shouldn’t question Caretaker Kella. She knows what she is doing.” Aaron says and then sits back down, not knowing how long she would be gone again.

Just over an hour later, Kella reemerges from the house, everyone standing once more. She walks to the sidewalk with the fat man again and then to their shock, Kella bows down to him. Aaron clearly hears her thanking him for his services and then he gives her a small set of keys before walking away. For a minute or two, the Caretaker simply rustles the keys in her hand, still not looking at any of them.

“Follow me, now.” Kella yells suddenly and they all jolt across the front lawns as she walks back into the house. They all follow suit in taking off what they are wearing for shoes and leave them by the door. “Sit.” She orders. Kella moves to stand before the front window as the twenty-five kids all sit in front of her.

Kella takes a moment and stares at each face before her, some of them holding her stare, some not. She has to note, sadly, that some of the kids must be no older then eleven, the oldest maybe fourteen. She also has to wonder how all the kids came to be in Acropolis. She may be knowledgeable of most of the families in her city, but she has to admit that she has never seen these kids before as she would have recognized them, most of them at least. One is blacker then night, with eyes so bright brown they look like a tree sitting in a valley, soaking in the sun. Another so pale white but covered from head to toe in freckles, hair almost the colors of carrots. And then the small Asian girl, Jill Aaron had called her, so awkward in sitting, her gangly arms and legs seemingly dumbfounded at what to do. Kella has to bite her tongue to keep from asking how they all came to be in her city, but that will come later.

“This is my house.” She starts. “But so is the one to the left. This house is where you will all stay for however long it takes. There are rules. First and foremost, you have all come to me willingly and I will never accept someone backing out. Giving up is not an option in this world. And because you have all come out clean, I know you will do well in life as you survived it.” For about half an hour, Kella lists off whatever comes to mind for rules. From the time to wake up and ready when the sun peaks the horizon, to cleaning up their messes and curfew. In this house, there are six rooms that can be used as bedrooms. She will have to separate them when she learns their age and maybe then into genders. As she lists her rules though, the last one seems to run her for a tizzy. “There will be no mating in this house. Not between you or anyone who is brought in here.”

“What’s mating?” A small girl with brown hair so thick it made her body look minuscule asks. But at her question, Kella is tongue tied.

“Hands up for who else doesn’t know what mating is?” Kella asks, eleven lone hands rising. “Alright, when I am done, I will meet all of you in another room. For now, all of you will stay in here until your beds and things come. You will live with what I give you until you receive compensation so you can purchase things of your own. I do not work like the White Dragon, I am not expecting any of you to pay me back for anything.” Kella pauses to wet her mouth and throat, her mind still reeling at what is going on. “I will never allow you to ever go hungry again, so for lunch I am having a small plate delivered for each. And then you will wait for the delivery of your furniture. After that, it will be close to dinner and I will bring you the food when I have finished cooking. Any questions?” No one speaks. Kella just nods and motions the eleven to another room, the feared ‘mating’ talk about to be told.

“” “” “” “”
Utterly exhausted and even a little uncomfortable, Kella stagers into her house rubbing her temples to get rid of a headache. She is just about to head upstairs when she sees the door to her basement armory wide open. Throwing her fall jacket onto her couch, Kella smiles at herself for finally catching her Aja in the act, she has never actually seen him in there before, after the first time of course. She makes her way down as quiet as possible, but even if she was trying to make noise, Kella wouldn’t have been heard as loud Yautja laughter is all there is. Kella turns the corner and with unbelieving steps she sees the most adorable sight she had ever set her eyes on. Aja is sitting cross-legged on the ground with a small knife in his hand, his wrist twisting at odd angles. And there, following the light as it is reflected from the blades shiny sides, Naxa is chasing around the small slit of light around the room, barking hysterically at it whenever he gets to it.

“Do I want to know why there was a mob of youth outside?” Aja asks, not taking his eyes off the white fur ball.

“I will tell you later.” Kella sighs as she sits down next to him, resting her head on his arm.

“” “” “” “”

Aja leans on the patio door frame, arms crossed in front of him in protest as he watches Kella cook all the cuts of beef she had bought for him being made for her new charges. His eyes roam down her body and many things come into his mind. A few ideas of what he will do to her that night, a lot of respect for her as a female, and now so much pride as a teacher that he can’t help but smile. Aja sighs loudly in a fake fit of anger but his mandibles still high in a grin.

“I’ll get more!” Kella laughs, slapping on more sauce. She knows that if she cuts the meats into quarters and gives them all an ample serving of vegetables and what not, these kids will be having their first real meal in a long time. Naxa suddenly runs into the back yard, doing a circle around her barbeque before laying himself down at her feet. Kella just laughs at Aja as he scoffs, even sticking out her tongue as he turns his back to her, going to his spot on her couch. Kella then grabs twenty-five small serving boxes, fills them each accordingly and stacks them. And without a word, Kella drops them at the adjacent houses’ doorstep, rings the bell and walks away. However, Kella watches as one of them brings the food in, making sure they got it.

That night Aja sits staring at Kella as she writes out the schedule the young Oomans will be on for training, him having to admit it would rival the timetable for an Unblood training for his Chiva. Her eyes shift to his and she scoffs at him, adding that she doesn’t like people watching her work and leaves to the kitchen. Naxa jumps up onto the couch, something Kella is trying to get him to stop doing but it seems whenever Aja was around, Naxa would be on his lap. He absentmindedly pets the white fur of the ‘puppy’ while his mind works over a few things. He knows that within a few Ooman weeks the seasons will change dramatically, giving him no other option but to leave. But it is not just that which makes Aja worry for his Kella. His peoples have many tribulations of their own, and now the Ooman planet has become secondary for what is important. But Aja knows that the Yautja are in a time that needs nothing but their full attention, and Kella cannot have a part of it, or any knowledge of it. With a sigh, Aja turns his head to her to see a wonderful sight. Leaning on the counter, Kella stands writing down whatever she is, but her round behind almost mischievously pointed at him. He ushers Naxa off his lap as he stands, making his way silently towards his Kella.

Suddenly Kella finds giant Yautja hands on either side of her on the counter, a large body behind her. Aja leans his massive head into her neck, his mandibles rubbing from her jaw down. He steps a little closer and to her welcome Kella feels a raging erection on her thigh, Ajas hips slowly rocking back and forth.

“Work later…” He purrs into her ear, even going to far as to slither his tongue out and lick her earlobe.

“I have to get this done.” Kella says with an almost suppressed moan. But as much as she wished not to, her body begins to move with him, her hips matching his. Aja moves a hand to her hip and digs his claws into her skin a little, growling possessively. Kella half expects him to throw her over a shoulder and drag her upstairs. But when his hand travels under the band of her pants, she is lost. Kella moans loudly as his hand cups her sex, his fingers moving subtly over her skin.

“Do it when I am done.” Aja barks back, sounding almost annoyed.

“When YOU are done?” Kella quips, but when she tries to turn around to smack him, Aja lifts her into the air and bends her over the back of the couch, his hand still rubbing her very wet folds. Kella tries to lift herself up but her body falls when Aja slips two fingers inside of her, curling them slightly as he knows she loves that touch. Suddenly Aja pulls her pants down to her ankles, using a foot get them completely off. Already both their breathing is labored, Aja chanting in his head not to simply impale her. He spreads her legs wide and his head falls back as he grumbles from her scent, his mouth watering. Kella answers him with a whine, trusting her hips upwards. He doesn’t waste anymore time, grasps his shaft at the base and starts to rub up and down her slit, letting her natural juices lubricate both of them. Aja steps a little closer and powers into her, nearly his entire length now able to fit inside of her heavenly core. Kella has to bite her lip to keep from screaming, although the pain is infinitesimal to what it used to be.

Aja grabs each of her knees and hooks them around his elbows, giving him more access as he slowly drives himself inside her. Kella moans loud and long when he quickly jabs in and out, making her body tingle with pleasure. Aja just smiles, his eyes closed and head back, soaking every touch possible. He leans down until his textured chest grinds on her back, in their time together he had not missed the fact his Kella finds his skin irresistible, although he can say the same for hers. He starts long and deep trusts, making dam sure the friction between their skins is hard, making both of them groan in delight. Suddenly Kellas body stiffens as Aja feels her walls contract around his length, his mandibles tightening as he tries hard not to finish with her, he wants to feel as much of her as long as he can. When he knows he will not conclude, Aja starts to rotate his hips around in circles, his mind lost in what to do. He bows his head around his Kellas shoulder and bites her gently, her scars nearly fully healed and so very beautiful. Just when he thinks he could go longer, one of Kellas hands shifts into his locks and massages his skin, it isn’t long before he fills her with all he has.

“” “” “” “”

“Sixteen!” Kella yells out, watching with hidden satisfaction as she instructs her kids to do more repetitions on their assigned machines. It didn’t take a lot for the manager at this gym to allow her to occupy the whole place for most of the week. Just the knowledge that ‘The Caretaker exercises here’ is enough to make up for it. “Fifteen!” She tells again as she walks around the kids, loving the smell of sweat fermenting off them. For a moment her mind wonders to the days when her father would yell out numbers, making her nearly cry every time he said ‘one more’ when she ended up going fifty. “Fifteen!” She repeats, getting a few groans from the kids. Kella walks in front of one in particular, Sean she remembers to be his name. He looks like a carved statue you would see in old books showing pictures of the Roman civilization. His face with hard angles, body shaped like a statue and attitude like one as well. When ever Kella had been in the house, she always saw him by himself reading a newspaper. She had even brought a few books of her own for him to read. And in the three days she has been ‘lightly training’ them, he had read two books. She had to wonder how a kid of only fourteen could have come to a life like this. Kella made sure to find out the stories of all her charges, but had gotten few real answers. All she knows of Sean is that he had come from Akawa City, running from an abusive father. Well, Kella will make sure he is never abused again. With a soft nod to the young boy, she moves on down the line. “Fourteen!”

When they were done going twenty one more repletion’s, Kella had them switch machines for the last time for the day. But just when she is about to begin counting again, she hears a very fait voice.

“Can we please take a break?” A feminine tone sounds. Kella looks around but she cannot match the voice to the person. “Please Caretaker.” It speaks again and Kella sees who it is, Annabelle with the flower in her hair. Kella has not seen the girls’ long and curly blonde hair without some kind of flower or leaf in it, the subtle beauty perfect for describing the girl, small, sweet, natural. Kella softly laughs as she makes the strange connection of the girl having a flower that needs water when she herself seems to flow like it. Her small frame always has a grace to it, like she had planned on moving like that for years and years, practicing to make it perfect.

“If everyone else wants to take a break, ok.” Kella says and every body slumps to the ground with a groan. She just turns away, saying softly that she needs to see to something and leaves the workout room.

“I can’t do this for much longer!” A boy huffs while wiping sweat from his brow.

“Caretaker Kella went through ten times what we are.” Aaron says quietly. “Her father pushed her to her limit everyday and I know she is going soft on us until we know our limits.”

“I just don’t get what we are learning from this.” A girl says.

“We are getting stronger! Duh!” A larger boy laughs.

“Strength isn’t the only thing a Caretaker needs.” Aaron says back.

“Then why don’t you tell me what a Caretaker needs, Aaron?” They suddenly hear Kella ask from above them. All the kids twist around to see her sitting lightly atop a workout machine, seeming as if where she is sitting is a normal place to be.

“How did you get there?” A boy asks.

“Silently. One thing you must learn is that even though you are always given the option to make noise, you should refrain from it at times.” The kids just look down in shame, knowing that she had purposely watched them to see if they would talk, and they did.

“” “” “” “”

“Naxa!” Aja trills harshly as he tries to get the white ball out of the bed, but having no luck. Kella just laughs, pointing out that it is his fault that the puppy thinks it is OK to sleep with them. He on the other hand is close to roaring at Naxa so he could have his Kella again. She has noticed him to be overly agitated in the past few days, short tempered with Naxa and even throwing his food at the T.V. when he watched a hero of a movie get shot. She had tried to ask what was wrong, but Aja just hissed that it is none of her concern. Every time he does do that though, Kella feels more and more like property. The realization that she is indeed owned by the Yautja always slamming into her anew every time.

“Can you do something for me?” Kella asks slyly, a hand petting one of his mandibles. Aja just thrills angrily but nods. “Turn into your stomach.” An eye brow goes up in question, but he rolls over. And to his shock, Kella sits on his lower back.

“What are you doing?” He nearly roars, the puppy barking back. But she doesn’t answer. Kella starts to massage his back, swiping away his black tresses and loving the feeling of his textured skin on her fingers. Instantly Aja starts purring in delight, his muscles relaxing.

It was never his intent to be angry with the white fluff, or even the T.V. But just the idea of leaving his Kella and going back to his peoples’ problems makes him go on edge. But even as her Ooman fingers are calming him down, the understanding that he will most likely not see Kella again haunts him.

About half an hour later, Kella moves off a sleeping Aja and curls up with her dog, sighing into his soft fur.

“” “” “” “”

Kella had woken up her kids before the sun rose this morning, playing what ever song came to her mind on the pots and pans. The first thing she made them do was clean the house as it had become very messy over the past days. She knew that they had never had real guidance and instruction in keeping house, even going so far as to do a class on how to use the washing machine. But with the clothes and things Kella had given them, they had not been taking care of them and with threatening to take them back, the house was soon spotless. By the time they were done, the sun was up and the cool fall day was nipping at their ears. They all had expected to go to the gym as they usually did, but Kella soon got them all into a swift run around the District.

When they get to the boarder between the Alpha and Epsilon District, Kella stops and turns to the large group, all of them leaned over, tried.

“Now is the challenge.” She begins. “The order in which I ran today is one that you must follow now, all the way back home and the one who has all they need, will get a prize.” The kids start to turn around, expecting her to go with them but when she doesn’t, they stop. “I won’t be helping you. And to make sure you do not simply take what ever way home, after every few blocks there is a friend of mine with a piece of paper that you must give to me when you get back home. If anyone gets lost or cannot remember the way, come home which ever way you can with however many slips you have. Aaron, you go first.” She says and the blonde boy runs off down the street. One by one each of the kids are called to leave, Kella being sure not to send them all together as one may help another and the exercise would be pointless. Once she sends the last, she runs back to the house and as she expected, no one is there. She sits on the doorstep and waits.

A little later…

“Caretaker.” Someone steals Kella from her meditation. She opens her eyes to see Aaron there with only seven of the twenty slips of paper.

“Good Aaron, sit and relax.” He nods and falls to the ground in exhaustion.

Two hours later, every kid is back and done in. Kella counts each ones slips and walks in front of one boy. Duncan looks every bit as his Irish name, a dark skinned warrior. Eyes, hair and skin the color of deep bronze. Instantly Kella knows he is smart as he is the only one of the twenty-five to remember the way back and to get every slip. It is the point of her exercise for the kids to begin to remember where they have been, a memory test. But for a moment Kella just looks at him, his long, slender body just is simply laying on the lawn, trying to calm down.

“Congratulations Duncan, you win.” She says softly and turns around to go home.

“Wait, I thought you said I get a prize?” Duncan asks, a deep voice to go with his physic.

“You get bragging rights.” Kella says and walks into the house.

“” “” “” “”

Aja twitches his mandibles and stretches as he wakes up, a smile forming when he feels his Kellas stomach under his hand. He opens his eyes to looks down at the Ooman in bed with him, dread in his belly. He could feel the air change, everyday getting colder, the next season creeping closer. Kella shifts a little and turns to face him, sleep still evident in her eyes as they move rapidly. Aja just moves closer, swiping stray strands of hair from her face. With a nearly silent sigh, Aja finally tells himself that what he has with Kella must end. Any time now the rainy days will turn to snowy ones and he will have to go, go back to his life and leave her. But oh how he doesn’t want to go.

After slipping out of the bed, Aja takes a slow bath. Granted Kellas tiny bathtub could never fit him, he makes due by standing in it and washing. It works and she helps most of the time. After drying off and dressing, Aja spends a few minutes looking at all of Kellas cloths, some he has not seen on her and wondering why not. He shakes his head at Ooman fashions once more and leaves the room. Scratching his side absentmindedly, Aja crosses the bedroom to go let the white ball out when he looks outside, and his stomach drops. He takes small, apprehensive steps towards to large window and stops at the glass. His eyes go to the top of the cloudy sky and watches one giant fluff of white, frozen water fall to the ground. Aja can’t even see to the other side of the street, the snow is falling so thick. Slowly he turns around and stares blankly at the body in the bed, Aja suddenly feeling so sad that their time has ended. He has to wonder why he is taking this so badly, it is not as though he didn’t know their time would end, he always knew that it would. But the thought of being away from her fills him with sorrow that he has never felt.

Aja shakes his head roughly and slides back into bed, wanting to spend as much time as possible before his Kella knows their time is over. He moves behind her and spoons her body with his, a mandible naturally nipping her ear. And then Aja remembers he has to go let out the white ball.

“” “” “” “”

“Please stop crying my Kella.” Aja purrs into her neck. But Kella just cries harder into her pillow, the cool metal of Ajas Awu’asa on her arm. When she had woken up, she nearly fainted at seeing the snow, not expecting it so early. Aja on the other hand didn’t seem sad at all, only seeming put together and stone faced, that just making her sadder. Aja runs a hand through her hair in an attempt to calm her, but only getting sobs. “Kella, Kella please I must go, my father has already said his good-bye to you and has called me back to the DropShip.”

“And what do you expect from me Aja?” Kella yells as she sits up, her blue eyes surrounded by tears and red. “You think I am just supposed to be calm and collected that you are leaving? I can’t be like you Aja!” She cries and falls back down, her face in the pillow. Aja on the other hand stays still, his mind reeling with her words. He is not calm about leaving her, his mind chanting that he wants to stay, but he can’t.

“I know you are sad Kella.”

“Sad?” She yells, nearly pushing him on the arm and looking up to him. “I’m not just sad Aja! I am angry, I am depressed and I am worried!”

“Worried of what?” He asks and moves to sit next to her.

“I’m worried that you’re not going to come back to me…” Kella whispers. Aja bursts into a deep, resonating purr and rubs her back, doing all he can think of to reassure his Kella.

“Kella, I swear to you that when I get the chance, when I am here or have time to hunt on my own, I will be back here to be with you.” He whispers into her ear against his best judgment as he knows there is no guarantee for him coming back here.

“Promise me.” Kella says, grabbing hold of her his head to make sure he looks into her eyes.

“I promise.” He says, holding her stare. She smiles up at him and lets his giant head go, which is soon covered by his mask. Kella sits on her bed and follows her Aja with her eyes as he goes to the door. But when he turns around and walks to the end of the bed, Kella is shocked. “No kiss good-bye?” He thrills is laughter. Kella huffs and lifts the covers above her head, hiding under them again. Aja shakes his head and laughs, again noting that Kella is so young, but she makes him feel young too. “Fine.” Aja barks in a fake fit of anger and opens and closes the door. Before Kella can lift the covers from her face, Aja is hiding behind the bed.

“AJA!” Kella screams, a horrified face staring at the door. Aja noiselessly walks to her side and grabs her waist, pulling her into his body. Kella yelps but soon moans when Aja pushes his now unmasked face into hers, his tongue delving into her mouth. Kella wraps her arms around his neck, trying to lock him in but when he breaks the kiss, she can’t hold onto him.

“I must go.” He sighs.

“Wait!” She bursts and runs off the bed and downstairs, Aja wondering what she is doing. Kella runs back into the room with a small package in her hands and jumps back on the bed next to him. “I didn’t know when you would be leaving but I got this for you some time ago.”

“What is it?” Aja asks, a hand grabbing the hard white box.

“It’s a gift.” Kella sighs. “I know how you like ‘The Godfather’…”

”’I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.’” Aja mimics in the perfect Don Corleone voice.

“Well, this is like ‘The Godfather’, this is ‘The Sopranos’.” Kella tells and opens the box.

“Where did you get Yautja projection disks?” Aja barks, lifting the small square disks.

“Don’t ask, just enjoy!” Kella laughs, wiping tears from her cheek. He gratefully takes the small box and hides it in his armor and then he realizes that he has no gift for his Kella. His mandibles twitch in thought at what to do and embarrassment, as it is rude to not give a gift when receiving one. And then it comes to him. Aja searches his Awu’asa and then he finds the small circular device.

“Take this Kella, and always have it on you.” He places it in her hands and she hugs it to her body. “Promise me.” Aja whispers, their faces slowly coming together.

“I promise.” Kella whispers back and then she closes her eyes as his mandibles touch her lips, gently grazing them like he had always done before. When he pulls back, Kella silently sobs, hot tears falling again. Kella opens her eyes only to watch her Aja leave, his cloaked form going into the cold outside.

“” “” “” “”

A Yautja cycle or seventy-seven Ooman days later…

Elder Rhd and his small team of helpers walk the large halls of the Clan Ship, talking about his days’ task when he looks into the observation room, finding his son standing in the middle alone, staring at the large window full of colorful dots. Elder Rhd motions for his people to meet him later and he walks next to his son.

“You have been very quiet all cycle.” Elder Rhd says, but to his frustration gets no response. “Even since we left the Ooman world, you have not been yourself. Quieter then usual, even overly rough with challengers. I am worried about you my son.”

“You do not need to worry about me father.” Aja breathes out. Every day for more then a whole cycle, Aja has stared out into the dark of space, wishing to Paya that he was really looking at the view from his Kellas window, or watching something on her projection screen. But he is not with her any longer.

“I will always worry about my offspring.” Elder Rhd laughs, even patting his son on the back. “But something is different with you, Aja. A friend of a friend has told me that you have not taken a mate in some time, which is not healthy.” Aja slowly turns his head to his father, eyes squinted in disbelief.

“My mating habits are none of your concern!” He barks, only getting a deep chuckle form his father.

“I only thought that it was kicking in, that is all.” Elder Rhd huffs sarcastically, leaving his sentence hanging and Aja uninformed at what he meant.

“I don’t even want to know.” Aja growls and turns back to the stars, remembering the day when he had stood here as they left the orbit of the Ooman planet and watched until the blue dot of Kellas world was gone. It seems that every time he noticed the world was smaller, his want to go back to his Kella grew larger. And now everyday he wakes up without her, he does his duties thinking of her, and he falls asleep without her.

“You see, there is something called Oxytocin,”

“Father no!” Aja groans, even cupping his head in aggravation.

“Oxytocin…” Elder Rhd goes on. “…is a hormone shared to nearly all sentient species. It promotes feelings of connectedness and companionship between a mating pair. But you have no prospects for a lifemate.” He points out, making something in Ajas stomach hurt to nearly unbearable. He has a sudden urge to talk to his Kella again, despite the fact that he had spoken to her that morning. The small round disk Aja had given her is something he had great fun using. The first night, when he was sure Kella was asleep, Aja turned on the long distance communicator and scared her something fierce. But she was happy to be able to speak to him, if only for a few minutes a day. Aja was always happy to just leave the device on during the times when she slept, listening to her breathe as she slept. Although, when Aja asked about her horde of trainees, she was adamant about not telling him anything. While other times they could talk forever about Naxa and how he has grown.

“I know I have no prospects.” Aja barks back, trying not to be angry with his father because he doesn’t know of what he has done.

“Even the females on the ship have become overly aggressive to gain mating rights with you, but you ignore them.”

“Is it so wrong for me to do so?” Aja laughs, trying to lighten the subject.

“In all seriousness Aja…” Elder Rhd tells in his very stern voice, Aja knowing instantly that this is very serious. “I have been approached by more then a few females, all questioning your fertility as you have not mated in more then a cycle.”

“My fertility?” Aja hisses in surprise. It was one thing to question his mating drive, but for some to think he is unable produce children is a very damaging this to the reputation of a male Yautja.

“Some think that you are not engaging in the act because you know you are unable to produce.” Elder Rhd finally looks to his son, but just tilts his head at his expression. “I know you are able to, but just a few questioning it can cause you great discomfort.”

“I understand and will deal with the problem, on my own.” Aja adds. Then the two fall silent and watch the stars go by. Aja was just about to excuse himself when a comet flies by the window, causing him to pause and giving his father the chance to speak first.

“There is an old Ooman tradition of wishing on a comet when seen, a ‘shooting star’ as they call it.” Elder Rhd laughs.

“How would you know that?” Aja asks with a small chuckle.

“Caretaker Kella told me on one of our outings.” At her name, Ajas heart bounds, stomach clinches and mind saddens.

“Still so angry with the female?” His father thrills in laugher as he turns around to leave. “Even at her name I can hear your heart beat with desire to hunt her.”

‘My desire is not to hunt her…’ Aja thinks with a sigh.

“Good night father.” He says.

“Good night my son.” And with that, Elder Rhd is gone and Aja turns back to the stars, thinking of his Kella again.

“” “” “” “”

Authors note: I just slap myself for being so late, I know some do not care but I do. I just have to say that this story is soon coming to its end. And that there are only four or five chapters left. And then it’s over…perhaps. Muahahahaha. You know my mind has been thinking up all kinds of things.

A special thanks to:

On ff .net: Oak Tree Woman, ready...aim...fire and marineswifey. To marineswifey, I would love to bounce around ideas with you if you want. Just message me and we’ll see what happens.

On aff .net: prairiefire, shortest_warrior(Hmm…does Elder Rhd know…I wonder, hahaah), Muse of Scrolls, chancelor22 and Death God Dist.

As for Naxa prairiefire, you completely right. Although I never did real research on it before I made him white, I know now that they cannot be white. At the time I was in-between black, for a stark contrast to her white, and white. So I do what I always do when between two things, I flipped a coin and white Naxa is.

E.M.