The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Hidden Wound To See

The peace in the conference room was interrupted by Rathe, who had entirely too much C’ntlip at midday meal, when he belched. Some laugh, while the others shake their heads. A meeting was not a place to do such things but then again, it was Rathe. They were waiting for Kh’Cho to input all his data into the computer. Lord Khupiee told him he would have to tell everyone what he had found already and Kh’Cho was happy to. He enjoyed informing others of medical findings, researching new things, and figuring out new ways to treat injuries. Kh’Cho had even done a few seminars to teach others how to be a medic. If a Yautja had some type of debilitating injury that they cannot hunt any longer, or they simply wished to go into the medical field, Kh’Cho was always there to teach them. While he was busy setting up the information into the projector, the others frittered away their time in mundane conversation. Except for one…
Dhm'Ni was shifting uncomfortably in his chair. All he could think of was Nala in his bed. How was this going to go over when he got home? ‘The son of the Ehre clan has an Ooman in his bed!’ is exactly what is going to be said when it gets out. In fact Dhm'Ni wasn’t too worried about the males’ views, but what of the females? Would this hurt his chances of getting mates? Or perhaps make him more attractive to them? It is widely known that Oomans are dangerous and unpredictable, that is what makes them such praised trophies. Maybe being able to survive boarding with Nala can add to his appeal?
“Kh’Cho.” Lord Khupiee barks. He is not in the mood for waiting.
“I am ready my Lord.” With that Kh’Cho turns off the lights with a hand held controller that was made for gathering just like this. It allows the speaker to control what is being shown on the projector without having to use the panel by Lord Khupiee. When the lights were dark enough, a picture started to form in the middle of the table of red lines. What the image was of made Dhm’Ni instantly shift his eyes else where. Just above the table was a scanned figure of Nala nude. Dhm'Ni didn’t know why he was so bashful to look at it, it wasn’t her. It was just that…he didn’t like Nala being in his room and knowing that her body, granted not the one being shown now, was real and alive and…Ooman. But to be sure that those in the room didn’t notice him, Dhm'Ni looked back to the image. “What Nala has told me is amazing to be quite honest. The reason she is so strong compared to the other Oomans is because of Ooman technology. Her body was given something called ‘enhancements’ that basically enhance everything about her body. For example, her height, it is not unnatural for an Ooman to be six foot three inches but for a female of the species it is. The enhancements made her body grow differently and so made her taller then the others. Also, her strength was changed. What she explained to me was that for every blood vessel there is a muscle fiber, not unlike us. But for her, the number of muscle fibers per vessel was increased, but without adding the appearance of said muscle. One that some of you may have seen upon meeting her was her bone structure.” Kh’Cho changes the image to just the bones of Nala, to Dhm’Nis liking.
“You may have seen that her bone density is much greater then any other Ooman ever seen. And you may have seen her breathing quite well when she was in observation, that is because her body is adaptive. Her body changes to her environment but to a certain point. While her lungs could take in what Oxygen was in our air, it was not getting what it needed and they hadn’t adapted to absorb any other elements. But there are other draw backs. Nala does not know of any further affects that they might have, and also something called a ‘monitor’ implanted by the scientist who invented the ‘enhancements’ may cause some unknown additions. We know as much of her body and she does and I am afraid that we will be learning the same time she does of any other effects. But back to her bone structure.” Kh’Cho took a moment to breathe and change the file being shown on his hand held. “Now, I have been able to count 47 separate brakes of her bones. That is NOT including re-brakes. Like her nose shows evidence of being broken three times before her recent brake. Her left tibia and left fibula show sever injury and damage that had been poorly repaired and then broken once more to be properly repaired. Her right knee has significant damage, particularly to the surrounding cartilage, which I can heal for her, along with other injures from her previous seasons. There are healed but large fractures on her skull, cracks on her rib bones, choler bones and even over her spine there is evidence of injury. This Ooman…” Kh’Cho pauses. “She is very strong, in a lot of ways other then strength, her immune system for one thing. But the history her body tells me of her life…it was very violent, very brutal, and very sadistic.”
“Sadistic?” Inkle asks apprehensively. Kh’Cho didn’t like being interrupted, but he would make an exception for this meeting.
“The scars that are all over her body are from being tortured.” Sya began. “The prominent whip marks tell me that she had endured torment like nothing I have ever seen. I am truly shocked, appalled and impressed that she is still alive. Conceivably she was kept alive, so that she could stay living to undergo more.”
“Now do you understand why I took her from the Oomans…” Lord Khupiee asks no one. He then nods to Kh’Cho to continue.
“That is not what I was actually speaking of.” Kh’Cho didn’t really know how to say this to those in the room, rape was something unheard of to the Yautja but to Oomans… Either way, Kh’Cho had to tell what he had learnt. “I had found scaring that tells me she had been raped, repeatedly. Scar upon scar upon scar.” Everyone in the room was taken aback at this. Nala was so strong, how could she have been taken? Sya was more angry then shocked. He snaps his head to stare at the table because he didn’t want to look at anyone at that moment. Why didn’t he know of this? Why didn’t Kh’Cho tell him when he was with him? HIS Nalani had been raped…At that moment Sya felt so sick, he and Nala were close in his eye and Sya couldn’t help but feel for her. “There is also indication of surgeries to correct past injuries. Regardless of that, she is healthy. She shows no inclination to any sickness or infection. Her Hard Meat scar will need to be tended to but she knows that already. Her fertility, “
“Fertility?” Lord Khupiee barks. “Why were you checking her fertility, she is not permitted to mate.”
“It is standard procedure when examining a female and…umm…” Kh’Cho didn’t really know how to say this… But when he took to long to finish his sentence, Lord Khupiee growls in frustration. Sya thought it best for him to tell about what they experienced with Nala.
“What Kh’Cho is trying to say is that the males on the ship, will most likely not listen to your rule of no mating.” Sya says carefully.
“Excuse me?” Lord Khupiee responds with a roar.
“When Nala was being examined by Kh’Cho, he and I caught her scent and I have to say it’s…it’s a…”
“Intoxicating.” Kh’Cho purrs. Everyone puts on a look of surprise at Kh’Chos words. He had even closed his eyes and was trying to remember her scent. It was wrong of him to do so but he is a male and her scent was so delicious.
“Kh’Cho!” Sya roars. He didn’t like him acting so oddly.
“Sorry.” Kh’Cho yelps. He really didn’t want to anger Sya. He didn’t feel like dying today because of a female. “Anyways, uhh…Chances for reproduction are good. Her Ooman physiology can reproduce with Yautja, same number of chromosomes and what not, but I believe that the pup would look more Yautja then Ooman. Even on the cellular level the Yautja have a dominant gene.” Some in the room start to laugh.
“The Yautja ARE entirely dominant over Oomans.” Pakka hisses.
“Maybe so, but she is no ordinary Ooman. Would you like to see the large bruise I have from her, from a simple kick to the chest?” Kh’Cho hisses back.
“Dominance is not a birth right to a species Pakka.” Lord Khupiee says. ”It is earned. Do you know of anything else?” He asks Kh’Cho.
“You, my Lord, were in the room when she explained her…predicament. But for those who were not there, Nala has given us fair warning that she will go through a process where she rids her body of blood that is stored for when a pup is conceived. Now, her body does not reabsorb the blood as our females do, her body expels it and during this time she has ‘PMS’. Her warning is to all and I hope that all will heed it. She wants everyone to stay away from her because she will kill any who come near her during this time.” Nala wasn’t really serious about it being the death of people, but the Yautja don’t take death threats like that lightly. “Other then that, I know nothing else.”
“You can go.” Lord Khupiee barks. He really didn’t like the fact that Kh’Cho has checked her fertility AND that even he was taken by her scent. Then the projector was turned off, and the lights were on again. Kh’Cho was just about to open the door when Lord Khupiee suddenly stood tall. “And you will tell no one of you findings about her fertility and of her scent. I will not have the males running after her to see just made even the healer aroused.” Kh’Cho quickly agreed with him and left. Lord Khupiee sat back down with a groan and stared across the table at Sya.
“Are you pure?” Dh’Kn questions his brother.
“Completely.” Sya hisses back. “I wouldn’t say my words unless I was pure. While I do not wish to go into specifics, what I had experienced was…something I fear the younger males will be unable to tolerate.”
“No matter, my rules stand. Dhm'Ni?” Lord Khupiee calls his son, but Dhm'Ni was in a daze. Maybe having Nala is going to be a bigger problem… “Dhm'Ni?”
“Yes father.” Dhm'Ni blurts.
“Go retrieve your computer chip. I wish to hear your recording now.”
“Yes father.” With that Dhm'Ni dashes out and to his room.
“Do you think having Nala stay with Dhm'Ni is the best thing, now that we know what we know?” Bakkub asks.
“Dhm'Ni can protect her from any male that thinks he is above my words. Now Sya,”
“I know you may think I am over stating what I had endured but I swear to Paya! Even I had to hold back my arousal musk when I caught her scent.” After Syas words everyone feel silent. Questioning Sya once was enough to know that he was being pure.
Dhm'Ni decided to walk down to his deck. He was regretting being at that meeting. He still couldn’t even consider Nala had been raped. Even when she told him in the observation room, Dhm'Ni had dismissed it. Not willing to even think it. But mostly he doesn’t want to know about Nalas fertility or her scent! Dhm'Ni still hadn’t pegged what she smelt like, since he was with her in the room she healed him in, he just couldn’t remember where he knew that smell from. It sweet and calming…But the scent that Kh’Cho and Sya were talking of was not the one he was thinking of.
Before long Dhm'Ni was at his deck but as he turned the corner to his hallway he was met with a crowd around his door. With a deep, threatening growl, Dhm'Ni charged into the grouping. Immediately everyone backed away from the door.
“She can’t hide forever you know.” Someone yelled.
“She is not hiding. She is resting.” Dhm'Ni hisses. “And if I hear of any of you waking her, if she does not beat you first, I guarantee I will. You mess with that female your not only messing with me, but also Sya. He is her caretaker and will do anything to keep her safe.”
“And what are you to her Dhm'Ni?” A familiar voice rings. A few of the Yautja around move to the side and allow Dyne to walk forwards. “You seem to also be very protective of the female. Tell me, what is she to you?” Dhm'Ni just growls. “Afraid to answer?” Without warning Dhm'Ni charges Dyne. With a swift swing Dhm'Ni slams him in the chest, sending him smashing into the far wall. Before Dyne could even breathe Dhm’Nis hand was around his throat. He lifts Dyne into the air while still keeping him and the wall together.
“When did I ever have to answer to you?” Dhm'Ni says is a grave voice. Dyne was struggling to breath and had begun to thrash about his legs and arms. But Dhm'Ni is much stronger then he, and wouldn’t hesitate to kill him when the opportunity comes. But he will have to wait. Dyne isn’t stupid enough to call Dhm'Ni an Ooman fucker. That would certainly merit a fight to the death. Dyne isn’t one to lose his life for something as stupid as that. When Dhm'Ni saw that Dyne was almost out he let him drop to the ground. The small following that was always on Dynes tail quickly gathered him and started down the hall to the lift.
“Was that necessary?” Khanna thrills in laughter.
“I believe it was.” Dhm'Ni says to him. He and Khanna weren’t on the best terms but they were polite to one another. Khanna had always been an opponent that Dhm'Ni could never defeat. With all their sparing and challenges, Khanna always won. He was older then Dhm'Ni by more then 5 seasons but that is no reason.
“It would be an honor to meet her Dhm'Ni.” Khanna says courteously. “She did seem to have great intuition of who to befriend.” He jokes about Nala hitting Dhm’Ni in The Ka’rik’na Hall.
“I told you, she is resting.” Most of the Yautja around had started to wonder off. They would go back when Dhm'Ni was gone, it was only a matter of time before she was awake and they want to be there when she does. “I would not say so if it were not true.”
“Shame. I would have enjoyed being the first Yautja, that was not an Arbitrator, which she has met that wouldn’t like to kill her. She must hate having to share a room with the first Yautja she came into contact with, that almost took her life. How many times have you tried to kill her Dhm’Ni? Some say the moment you two meet you just about killed her. Then I witnessed you incapacitate her, making her weak to the Hard Meat that marked her…Maybe she would like to room with me? A Yautja that can really protect her.” Khanna thrills. Dhm'Ni, however, wouldn’t do a thing about his words. He stopped caring about Khannas bullying when he was a pup. But Khanna knew Dhm'Ni wouldn’t do anything, so he just laughs at him and leaves. A few still lingered around the door but no one of consequence.
When Dhm'Ni entered his room, those in the hallway just happened to lean over to see if they could catch a glimpse of the Ooman but because the lights were off and Dhm'Ni was standing right in the middle, they saw nothing. But he had purposely left the lights off. He could see just fine, there was always a faint light that illuminated the room, even when the lights were off. This was to ensure that no one could sneak up on you in the dark. It was however dark enough to sleep in, it was only enough to see edges and shapes. All Dhm'Ni really needed in here was a small chip from his wrist computer. But as he slowly and silently made his way to his Awu’asa, Khannas words crept into him mind. Was what he said true? Was that why Nala was so afraid of him, because he had tried to kill her? She tried to kill him too, and he’s not afraid of her! But was that why it was so weird between them?
After he possessed the chip, Dhm'Ni was about to leave but he stops at the end of the bed. Nala was still in the same spot as when he left, just a lump in his bed. Why was it so hard to understand that Nala was in his bed? What was so wrong about it that made his stomach ache? Was it even the idea of Nala being in it or what would come of it? Dhm'Ni is the son of a clan leader, and is expected to perform like the son of a clan leader but…he has an Ooman in his bed. But could it be something else? Couldn’t it now be that he knew more of Nalas life that his stomach twisted in knits every time he thought of her? Raped…tortured…abandoned… How could she have survived that? But how was it that every time her name came into his mind Dhm'Ni felt a pain that he never felt before?
As if being pulled, Dhm'Ni walks to the side of his bed and knells on the ground. The next thing he knew he was lifting the furs, he didn’t know why but he was. Eventually the covers gave way to the face of Nala and she seemed so serene, so calm. Dhm'Ni flinched when he saw wet spots on his bed by her eyes, had she been crying? Dhm'Ni lowers his head and sighs. Why did he keep making her cry? What does he do that makes her so sad? Maybe she didn’t believe him when he said he didn’t hate her? But he was being pure with her, he really didn’t hate her it’s just…he didn’t really have a reason for being so distant towards her. Even when Dhm'Ni walked her to The Ka’rik’na Hall it was a harsh silence between them. Nala did ask why he was being so quiet, at the time he was still angry for her little stunt with her hair, but what else was it? It couldn’t have been just that could it have been? Remembering back to the lift, Dhm'Ni became angry with himself for yelling at her. He was just warning her to stay away from Dyne but he shouldn’t have yelled at her. She was already upset, he smelt her tears and he just had to go and make things worse.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you, Nalani.” Dhm'Ni whispers. “And I don’t hate you. I was just…I…” He didn’t have a reason and he shouldn’t be making excuses for his actions. With a sigh Dhm'Ni places the covers back down and heads for the door. But just as he walks by the COM, Dhm'Ni remembered that he and Sya had a private conversation and he knew that Sya wouldn’t want it to be heard, neither would Dhm'Ni. So he quickly inserted the chip into a port on the COM and opened the file. What popped up on the screen were lines of the sound recorded. Showing spikes in sound and talk, it was exactly the same as the sound screen on his mask but these showed up in row and were timed. Dhm'Ni speedily cut his and Syas conversation and placed it in a different file, while leaving the rest intact. Once he was finished, Dhm'Ni left the room with a warning for those who still lingered to stay quiet if they were going to remain here door watching.
Back in the conference room, Ykas’e had entered and was making his way to Lord Khupiees side. The others in the room had been discussing the idea of stronger and more powerful Oomans to hunt. Pakka was even more displeased with the pray species. Changing themselves, for what? War? Protection? A lot of good it did Nala. Even Pakka was disturbed by the news that Nala had been raped. Someone as powerful as her, someone who seemed in control over males, someone who could kill a Kainde Amedha with her bare hands, and she had been taken without permission. But she survived it. And so many other things. Some at the table were conversing about her stories. They all had a desire to hear her tales of how she came to put on such scars and how she gained her other wounds. But before any of that they desperately wanted to hear Dhm’Nis recording.
“What is it?” Lord Khupiee groans to his assistant.
“My Lord, I have just received word the ship that was in the vicinity, that had made contact with us before the hunt, will be docking within 4 hours.”
“What ship?”
“You spoke with Rik’et your self, Sir. He along with four other Yautja, one I believe is Dhm’Nis friend, were hunting in neighboring system and heard we were coming. They requested to go back to the Homeworld along with us. They were having trouble with the engines and thought it best to dock it in the DropShip, instead of causing more damage to the vessel.”
“Ahh yes. Dhm'Ni knows of their arrival then?”
“I suppose so. Rik’et said that his friend sent him messages informing him of his stay.” Lord Khupiee waves Ykas’e away and he quickly scurries out. And as he opened the doors to leave, Dhm'Ni was coming in. They swiftly nod to each other and then Dhm'Ni starts for his chair. But as he passes Sya, they each look at the other oddly, but when Dhm'Ni nods, Sya knew that their conversation would not come up during the meeting. Dhm'Ni promptly sits and hands over the chip to his fathers and heaves a sigh.
“Why do you sigh, Dhm'Ni?” Lord Khupiee asks, but just was Dhm'Ni opens his mouth, Sya starts to laugh.
“That’s right, you said it was going to be ‘amusing’, didn’t you? OH!” Suddenly Sya went straight face. “I wonder if it will be heard.”
“What will be heard?” Lord Khupiee asks.
“I will tell you when we get to it, quick…put it in, put it in!”
Just over an hour later the conference room had an odd silence. Most of the attending were looking directly across the table with a hard face. They were desperately trying to hold in laughter. There were plenty of things that they found hilarious. From Nalas ‘hang-over’ to Syas ‘she seems pleasant’, all the way to Nala screaming at the Queen. Only after Sya confessed to a sound that came from the recording, that sounded like something had snapped, did everyone fall quiet. Even Lord Khupiee held his mandibles clenched to keep from chuckling.
“And she just…” Pakka thrills. “…slapped you?” Dhm'Ni just nods.
“If I remember correctly, it was a gentle and tender smack.” Sya says, making the entire room, with the exception of Dhm'Ni, burst in laughter. “I didn’t really understand why Nala said ‘hello gorgeous’ to you in the Hall but now I do. I had no idea as to the extent of your conversations. Have you two spoken any further?”
“No. The moment she was in my room she practically dove into bed. She didn’t give me a change to change the sheets!” Dhm'Ni exclaims.
“You know Dhm'Ni the most important part in a conversation is hearing what isn’t being said.” Lord Khupiee says to his son.
“And I have to say that you two were very loud.” Sya scolds. “Before, she was decent to you. Only after you hit her didn’t she become aggressive and despondent. Perhaps it was that which makes her so silent towards you.”
“I believe I had made thing even worse, Sya.”
“Why?” Lord Khupiee barks. “What did you do?”
“When I was taking her to my room we ran into Dyne, and then I warned her to stay away from him...”
“Warned?” Pakka questions. “Warned as in yelled?” Dhm'Ni lowers his head in shame, it was a very stupid thing to yell at a female. Out of the blue, Lord Khupiee growls at a very threatening tenor. At first Dhm'Ni thought it was aimed at him but when he looked up his father, Lord Khupiee was starring at nothing.
“You keep Dyne away from her.” Lord Khupiee hisses. He had dealt with Dyne on many occasions. Dyne was the son of Elder Ukinda and he used his lineage for everything. More then once Dyne refused to comply with rules and laws set by Lord Khupiee. The only reason that Yautja is still alive is because of Elder Ukinda. “I will not have him messing around with Nalani. And if he does and Nalani doesn’t harm him for doing so, Dhm’Ni…you can use what force you deem necessary.” The smile that formed with Dhm’Nis mandibles was only a small part of the bliss he gotten from his fathers words. Dhm'Ni knew that Dyne would try something…it was only a matter of time.
“If there are no other issues, I would like to speak with Lord Khupiee alone.” Sya tells.
“I would request that once Nalani is awake that she comes to meet us all, before those on ship. We will contact you when she is ready.” When there was only silence, Lord Khupiee waves his hands and everyone but he and Sya go.
“Perhaps we saved her from more then that island.” Sya says gravely. He still couldn’t comprehend that Nala had been taken.
“I know we did. I am more then a little disturbed by that news as well. Nalani seems too strong to have been taken but alas.” Lord Khupiee crosses his arms and yawns. “It is not just the female that is exhausted I’m afraid. But before I sleep, I feel I must ask you something Sya… What is your interest with Nalani?” The question is not disrespectful or unintelligent, it is common for a clan leader to ask those in his clan of their intentions. The question isn’t so absurd if you think about it. Lord Khupiee had noticed Syas sudden change in demeanor when news of her rape came. And for a moment Lord Khupiee thought that Sya may want to be her mate.
“I know how you may see it Khupiee but I see no reason to hide it.” Sya slowly rose from his chair and walks to sit beside Lord Khupiee. “I see and I feel Nalani…as a daughter.” Lord Khupiees eyes widen and he tilts his head. He was about to question Sya on his words but quickly chose to hold his tongue. For one thing Lord Khupiee didn’t want to disrespect him. And for another…he knew Syas secret.
“Do you suppose Sya has aim for Nalani to be his mate?” Dh’Kn asks the group just after the door closes. Being his brother, Dh’Kn feels a sort of duty to care for him. As all brothers in a family do. While the females tend to themselves ad the males do, brothers born in close age, and he and Sya, they had a different relationship.
“I wouldn’t be surprised his he did.” Bakkub answers.
“I for one would be!” Dhm’Ni barks. He couldn’t see Sya and Nala being mates. He couldn’t see Nala being anyone’s mate!
“Why do you say that?” Bakkub barks back. The group was slowly making their way to the lift but stop just at the doors.
“He didn’t seem to have any fondness of that kind for her. Sya is more protective then possessive towards Nala.”
“That I am.” Sya roars down the hallway. “And I do not appreciate having those I deem secure as companions to talk of me in such a way.” He says harshly and steps into the group.
“We are only speculating.” Rathe defends the cluster of gossiping Arbitrators.
“Speculation is for those without proper information. You have all you need to know and I will not give you any more to continue your hearsay.” Everyone knew that something said between he and Lord Khupiee made him on edge. And Sya is not one to be close to when he is in a bad mood. When the lift arrived they started to pile in but Dhm’Ni was held back when he felt a large hand grab onto his wrist. He instantly hisses in surprise and twists to see it was Sya. “Come with me.” He and Dhm’Ni turn the other way to the stairs as those in the lift look inquisitively at their passing forms. “When did you put Nala to bed?”
“Not more then 10 minutes after we left, which was the thirty second and sixth hour.” Sya grunts.
“Good, then we have time.”
“Time…time for what?” Dhm'Ni asks apprehensively.
The Kehrite deck was relatively empty as Sya and Dhm'Ni enter. Of course Nder was here, he was either here sparing or on the upper level, which was meant for fights to the death. While the training deck had tens of sparing squares, the upper deck had only one square and surrounding that were cascades of stairs for the watching Yautja. That deck is named ‘U'sl-kwe’, final rest, because when two Yautja went in to fight…only one came out,
“It is about time this deck was gifted with a true warrior.” Nder says to Sya who just laughs. The three greet one another with a shoulder shake. “Tell me, how is the little one?”
“Sleeping like pup.” Dhm'Ni says mockingly.
“Pity. Perhaps you, Sya, could grace me to be my sparing partner until she wakes. I have been anxious to see her skill first hand.” Nder thrills. Sya agrees with him and together they walk to the wall. On the far side of the room was a long case of weapons. It was all topnotch because this is an Ehre Clan ship. They would have nothing less then the best. The two take their time in choosing their weapon. Nder took a simple staff and Sya seized a plain Glaive.
“When shall I wake her, I would need to before she wakes naturally. I will not have that Ooman rummaging around in my room.” Dhm'Ni hisses.
“While I understand you calling her Ooman Dhm'Ni.“ Sya starts as he and Nder walk into a square, but they would not start until he was done with Dhm'Ni. “Nala may not. She may not like being called that now, or ever. When did you start calling her ‘Ooman’ and not Nala?” Sya asks suspiciously. But Dhm'Ni never answered. He didn’t know. Just now he realized he has called her Ooman and not Nala, but why…
“If you cannot properly respect her for what she has done or will do, you are not worthy of having her in your bed!” Nder teases with a little seriousness in it.
“Me, not worthy!” Dhm'Ni hisses. He knew that Nder was only ragging him, but still. “I was the first of our people who met her. My name was the first Yautja name from Nalas lips and it was I who was the first to promise to save her! If there is one other Yautja on this ship who you feel has more of a bond then Nala and I, point him out and I would gladly send her his way!”
“Stop Dhm'Ni…” Sya barks. “And listen to your words.” Dhm'Ni tilts his head is speculation and opened his mouth to ask what Sya was talking about but then his words registered. Why was he being to awful to her when they did have such a bond? “While he turns that in his young mind, shall we?” With that, both Nder and Sya walk to opposite ends on the square and bow their heads.
It was hours later and Nder was extremely irate. Every time he and Sya fought, he always ended up on his ass. Even now, he was sprawled on the ground with the end of Syas Glaive at his throat. Long ago Dhm'Ni sat at the side to watch and every time Nder fell, he would laugh hard.
“You think this is effortless?” Sya barks. Instantly Dhm'Ni hushes. “You and Nder, now!” Sya steps back from Nder, who shoot up from his back, and stepped back to wait for Dhm'Ni to ready himself.
“Let’s say winner takes Nala.” Nder jokes.
“Winner takes Nala?” Dhm'Ni hisses. He takes hold on Syas Glaive and walks to an opposite end on the square.
“I win, Nala has the choice of housing with me. You win, I will never bring it up again.”
“Mating is forbidden until he Enders arrive.” Sya warns.
“I do not wish to mate with her Sya. Far from it. I simply do not see Dhm’Ni and her working, and Dhm'Ni did say if I knew of a Yautja with more bond then she and he, then I should tell him. And considering that Nala and I became acquainted when I was offering her a drink…Perhaps she would rather stay with me.” Both Sya and Nder were shocked when Dhm'Ni roars in anger.
“She doesn’t even know your name!” He hisses. Suddenly Nder jolts and jumps in the air towards Dhm'Ni who blocks the incoming staff with the glaive and pushes back against him. Nder lands a little ways back and wasn’t ready when Dhm'Ni threw down his glaive and charges with only his hands. Dhm'Ni slams a fist into the side of Nders face with stunning force, causing him to stagger to the right. But Dhm'Ni was furious! He wouldn’t let him fall from a simple hit like that. He takes hold of Nder by his arm and pulls him back. But just as Nder was turning, he swings his staff across and strikes Dhm'Ni in the chest. With a loud ‘thud’ Dhm'Ni was on his back, but remembering to his first fight with Nala, he decided to use one of her moves but a little differently. Dhm'Ni brings his knees to his chest and heaves out, causing him to fly back up but with his force he head buts Nder in the stomach, he stumbles back but soon finds his footing. Nder lunges once again with the centre of his staff aimed at Dhm'Ni chest. But before it made contact, Dhm'Ni grabs the staff as well and all the sudden the two were at a stand off.
“What makes you so angry Dhm'Ni?” Nder taunts. Each Yautja was pushing the other with the staff, putting all their strength into their stance. “Is it the idea of Nala being in my bed that upsets you so? I promise you that I will not touch her, unless we are sparing.” Dhm'Ni takes is a heavy breath and roars in Nders face. With a new force, Dhm'Ni shoves the staff into Nder, making his stumble back. He kicks Nder in the gut, sending him slamming to the ground. Dhm'Ni starts to laugh again and playfully backs away from Nder, expecting him get up and charge but he didn’t. Nder rose only to his knees and bent over to emit a grisly cough. With his chance, Dhm'Ni charges him. But without warning Nder pounces and rolls just as Dhm'Ni got close. He moves behind Dhm'Ni and spun onto his back. Before Dhm'Ni could turn, Nder boots the back on his legs, right at the knees. Dhm'Ni falls ungracefully to the ground with a hiss. Nder speedily gets to his feet and positions the tip of his staff at the back of Dhm’Nis neck, and when he rotates onto his back, Dhm'Ni had a nice and sharp blade at his throat. “Seems that little female and I can use a lot of tricks on you. Maybe she can teach me more!” Nder laughs. Dhm'Ni didn’t like it but Nder beat him the exact same way Nala did when they fought in front of his father.
“Seems so!” Sya thrills. Nder plasters on a giant smile and walks to gather the lone glaive and places both weapons back to their rightful spots on the wall. Dhm'Ni swiftly rose and growls to himself. “You allow such trivial things to seep your concentration. While in this square there is no Nala. There is no one other then you and your opponent.”
“When do you plan on waking Nala? Because I plan to offer my residence to her. I am sure any time with Dhm'Ni would be strained.” Nder thrills.
“Like a carrot!” Sya barks. While Dhm'Ni shook his head is disbelieve, Nder just tilts his head in question. “And just so you know Dhm'Ni, Nala does know his name.”
“Does she now…” Nder barks.
“No matter.” Dhm'Ni growls. “Nala will sleep where she wishes. But I think now is a good time to wake her. What are Ooman sleeping patterns like Sya?”
“She should be ready to wake now, if she is not already.” Sya laughs. Dhm'Ni says he will wake her by the COM and if she answers then he will tell her to get ready to meet the Arbitrators. “Remember your words Dhm'Ni. What you and Nala have, that bond you spoke of, may be the only way to make things better between you.”
Have you ever been in a dream that you knew you were dreaming? Like, you were watching yourself running away from a bear and in your mind you’re yelling at yourself to run faster, run harder and all the sudden, you wake? It’s those few moments between true sleep and the waking world when you know that you are in your bed and these images in your mind aren’t real, but that feeling doesn’t happen every day. At least to you, because to Nala…It happens every night.
The hum of the car was more then a little soothing. The gray with blue stripes interior of the car was making Nala a little queasy. It always did. But as she was sitting in the back, full grown and always wearing what ever it was she slept in, Nala sighs because she has been through this dream to many times.
“Is my baby tired?” A soft and loving voice penetrates the humming. The petite woman in the passenger seat shifts in her chair to look at her tiny baby. Her soft blond hair falls from her back and incases her face in a veil of light. But she wasn’t really looking at a tiny baby at all. As Nala dreamed her dreams over the years, the person sitting in the car-seat changed along with her. But her mother never really seemed to care, it was a dream after all. But every time she slept and had this dream, Nala felt so dull because she knew what was coming. When her mother started to look in a large pink and yellow bag, only to pull out a pretty pink pacifier, Nala couldn’t do a thing. “Here you go sweetie.” Her mother says as she gently places the pacifier into Nalas mouth. All she could do was take it, but once her mother turns around, she takes it out and places in the seat beside her.
“Seems the little one is being fussy today.” A strong and deep sound hits Nalas ears. Her father wasn’t a large man, just less than six feet but he was the ultimate image of an Irish man. Short, stocky and hair as red as a tomato. “Don’t worry, we are almost there. We are going to Hawaii. That is why we named you Nalani, calmness of the skies. You are going to have a lot of fun little one. You going to grow up learning the ways of this land, learning how to swim in the green waters and watch all the animals. Like…a…TURTLE!” Nala bursts out laughing, she never understood why but when ever she heard ‘turtle’ from her father she thought it was the funniest thing ever.
‘I’m sorry for yelling at you, Nalani. And I don’t hate you. I was just…I…’ It was softer then a whisper, almost inaudible but Nala heard it. She instantly sits up as looks out the windows of the car into nothing but gray.
“Dhm'Ni?” Nala asks out loud. But there was nothing there. All that she could really make up in her mind was what the car looked like, she had pictures of her mother and father but as to what the world looked like…she had no clue. But she wasn’t looking at the world right now. She wanted to find Dhm'Ni. She was sure it was him. Positive. But why would she have heard him? Maybe she was just making it up, faking the sound of his voice to feel better about what’s happening between them. But she was dreaming, nothing was real in a dream…it didn’t happen.
“Now you’ve got her all excited.” Her mother scolds. “Shh…Sleep my child, it’s only a hip skip and a jump and we’ll be home!” She tells Nala. Her mother starts to smooth her hair with one hand and Nala pushes her head into her touch.
It was coming soon, that truck that killed them. And no matter if Nala yelled or jumped to move the car…they were always hit. So all she can do now is sit and wait.
BEEPBOOP
An angry moan emanates from a bump on a bed.
BEEPBOOP
“SHUT UP!” Nala yells.
BEEPBOOP
“FUCK!” Nala sits straight up and gets even angrier when she tries to remove the fur blanket from her face but it was so fucking large it took a while to finally find air. When her face was at last feeling the air, Nala opens her eyes and groans as all the memories come flooding in. She was in Dhm’Nis room.
BEEPBOOP
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?” Her eyes dart towards a flashing light by the door and she reluctantly and angrily slides off the bed with the fur in hand. She causes her cloths to fall to the ground once again, but unannounced to her. As Nala makes her way to the flashing light, she loosely wraps the furs around her body and over her head, completely incasing her but leaving only her face visible. The light that was coming from the screen was a little to much, so mush so that Nala had to squint her eyes. “…red…green…red…green…” She didn’t know what to do. Two large circles, one red and one green, were in the middle of the screen but should she press one? She doesn’t even know what this thing is! And this is Dhm’Nis room, what if this a communicator and she pops up when they were expecting an eight and a half foot Yautja but they get a six foot three Ooman?
BEEPBOOP
“FUCK IT! Green means go!” Nala shoves a hand at the screen and when it hit the green circle, Dhm'Ni appears on screen. Instantly, and to both the dismay of her and Dhm'Ni, Nala lowers her gaze while still keeping her head pointed at him. Dhm'Ni was about to say something when he was shoved aside with such force that he fell.
“Nala!” Nder happily thrills. While she was expecting Dhm'Ni to have called her, the voice was different but familiar.
“Hello you!” Nala smiles and looks back to the screen.
“Tell me, do you know my name?” Nder asks slyly. Dhm'Ni had already risen and was trying to push Nder away from the screen but every time Dhm'Ni tried to shove him, Nder would swat his hands away. Nala had to think for a moment. Sya told her before when they were talking Allen and Sya said…
“Needear…” She says with uncertainty.
“Close, Nder. I have another question for you, would you,” Nder didn’t get to finish when Dhm'Ni delivered a full force right hook to his face. Nder was ripped away from the screen and Dhm'Ni unforgivingly takes his place at the COM like nothing had happened. But Nala didn’t like what he had done, Dhm'Ni interrupted a conversation between her and Nder and for that Nala glared at him.
“DON’T!” Dhm'Ni barks but Nala didn’t care. This fucker woke her.
“ME DON’T? YOU DON’T!” Nala barks back. “DO NOT WAKE ME BEFORE DUE TIME! I don’t even know how long I should be sleeping, I can sleep between 14 and 24 hours and I am guessing I haven’t been asleep that long have I?” Dhm'Ni, a little worried of Nalas sudden anger, tells her she slept around seven hours. “And just like you hate me glairing, I hate being woken. But since I am up, I will stay up. But YOU WILL REGRET IT!” She warns him, this time she wasn’t kidding about causing harm.
“Now that you are up you may as well stay up until it is the true time to sleep. Say Djh’fah.” Dhm'Ni orders harshly.
“Why should I say Djh’fah?” But she got her answer when the lights turn on. Nala instinctively covered her eyes with the pelt and groans in agony as the light hurt her eyes for a moment.
“You will be meeting the rest of the Arbitrators.”
“Who are the Arbitrators?”
“I will be there in a few minute, be ready.” With that Dhm'Ni turns off the COM. Never has any one hung up on her like that before. How rude! No good-bye not even a nod…nothing!
“Asshole.” Nala mumbles. She didn’t want to be up and she sure as hell wasn’t going to be getting dressed to meet some cops. Screw the Yautja and their fancy word, cops and Arbitrators as one and the same. Nala starts for the bed once again and sees her clothing lying messily on the ground. She speedily gathers the pile in her arms and does a half assed job of folding her shorts and jacket. Once she was done she placed then on the end of the bed, and since those were there, she walks to the other side of the bed to jump onto it. The bed was tall for a bed to her, coming to her mid thigh. But just as she rounded the corner her foot met something very hard, very sharp and very metal. “MOTHER FU-!” She lifts her foot to look at the stinging pain that was now on her foot but all the sudden Nala started to hop and she lost her balance, then gracelessly falls to her was with an ‘ump’. Nala bring her now bleeding foot into her eye sight and can see a long but very thing line going across the middle of all her toes. But before she would find something to clean it, Nala looked for what ever made the cut.
What she found was Dhm’Nis mask, half hidden under he bed and half sticking out. Nala quickly takes hold of it and starts looking at it intently. It was so plain… no real design markings or anything, not even a real design to it. It was just a mask. But shivers still crawl down her spin when she looks at the eyes pieces. Black as night and very intimidating. Turning it over to look at the inside, Nala sees five big metal latches on the on the inside close to the edge and all along rim was a spongy material. Immediately Nala thought that it would be perfect to keep the air of what ever planet they were on from seeping in to their mask, but there was also a line of the same sponge stuff separating the mouth from the eyes. She couldn’t guess at to what that was but she didn’t care at the moment.
Tossing Dhm’Nis mask on the bed, Nala plays eny-meanie-miney-moe as to which door she was going to try and landed on the door to the right. A giant yawn escapes Nala as she drags the heavy blanket along with her. The door opens once she was close enough but when she walks in and the door shuts behind her, the lights didn’t turn on.
“Umm…lufah? Dhufah?” While she didn’t get the word right, she got the sound right and the lights switched on. She was a little bummed when it was all black with red furnishings. While it was still stunning it was just a little melodramatic. A momentary look to the right and Nala saw the first door on this ship that had a handle. She yelps in pain as she unintentionally bit her lip in curiosity, wondering what was behind door number one… Carefully Nala turns the knob and reveals, at first glance, a simple closet with shelves of white cloth. But hanging on the back of the door was a coat. It was made out of what looked like sheep skin, with the soft leather on the outside and the extremely soft wool on the inside. But the fur Dhm’Nis coat was made of was definitely not sheep. It was unnatural looking black and every few inches was a stray gray hair. And it was a lot softer then wool, it was half way between silk and fur of a rabbit or something.
A stinging brought Nala back to why she was in here in the first place. She closes the door was walks to the sink. While she saw the basin in the middle, she didn’t really know what it was so wouldn’t just go a use it. The sink was on the opposite wall to the closet was had two silver buttons. It took her one try to figure which was cold and which was hot. While keeping a steady footing, Nala rinses the blood that pooled at the opening of the cut to her toes and seethes from the sting. After she blew her foot dry, not willing to use the fur because it was too beautiful and she didn’t want hair in her cut, she takes a look around the bathroom and sees everything that should be there. But one thing that made her feel so unbelievably small and incredibly undersized was a giant pool…well, it was a bath but hell! Right now it was empty but Nala could tell that when it was full it could definitely take Dhm’Nis full length.
A moan/groan /sigh came from Nalas lips as she fell on her back onto the bed. But she didn’t even get a moment to savor the softness of the bed when she heard a weird chime.
Cingding
“What now?” She asks aloud. But when Nala gets to the screen where Dhm'Ni once was, it wasn’t flashing or anything.
Cingding
It was the door. A small panel just to the right on the door had a small flashing button.
“Asshole can’t let himself in?” Nala reticules Dhm'Ni. And without a second thought she stands right in the middle of the door, purposely so Dhm'Ni would have to talk with her, Nala presses the little flashing button and the door swings open.
But something was very wrong…Her eyes at first look the chest of who she thought was Dhm'Ni, but it wasn’t his stunning shades if green. Nala tilts her head as she looks on at a light yellow belly with dark black and brown spots. When a very surprised hiss comes from the figure in front of her, Nala finches hard. But then she did something really stupid.
“Hello…”
Authors Note: Updates are going to be a little more spread out because I am in school again, yawn. But when even I can I will think of exactly what I am going to writ so that I can type it fast when I get home.
Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6, & 9 to 13.)
Rik’et Rhy Kit
P.S. This chapter was the last chapter I had posted on ff.net. And do not worry, it is me, Yeyinde. So don’t worry if you thought it was stolen. But if you don’t believe me, you can email me. Chapter 16 will be up to minute it’s done!!