The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Fitting and Befitting

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!” Lord Khupiee barks when he walks back into the conference room. “We were just about to leave.”
“I am glad you didn’t.” Sya sternly says and sits. “You asked me about Nala fighting Dhyot’te’ka and its true. He had gone into Kh’Chos and took her to the training deck to spar. Dhm'Ni, Thr'ik and I came in just as the battle was ending.” Sya sympathetically laughs before continuing. “Nala ingeniously pinned him to the way by way of his loincloth and a staff. But what is really bothering me about their battle, was just as it was ending, Dhyot’te’ka became aroused by her and produced his mating musk. That was from simply fighting her, who knows what will happen when her true scent is found.”
“I do not think Dhyot’te’ka is someone to worry of.” Bakkub adds. “He has more honor then to go against your will Lord Khupiee. But as for others…”
“Dyne will be someone to worry of.” Lord Khupiee hisses. “If that lowly Yautja places one ill mannered hand on her, I will personally rip his head off.” He roars.
“If and when he does, I am sure Nala can hold her own.” Syas says softly. “She had told me she is not yet ready to even think of mating and because she has recently lost her mate, I don’t think Dyne will have a chance to even say a word to her. Dhm'Ni has warned her of him and she will listen to him, despite what it may seem.”
“She didn’t seem too angry with him today, she happily hit him with the Alsn.” Inkle thrills in laugher.
“They are talking now, I hope that what ever it is will be finished tonight.” Sya tells the table.
“They talk too much.” Pakka hisses.
“The only other option is for Kh’Cho to be living in the room with them because they will slowly tear each other apart.” Rathe growls.
“I hope that Nalani will get some sleep though.” Lord Khupiee quickly stops the apparent anger between his brother and Rathe, once again. “And I think we should all follow suit.”
“It is early yet.” Dh’Kn barks roughly as some stand to leave.
“You can sleep as you wish Dh’Kn.” Sya says before any other. “But I doubt dealing with Nala drowsy will do any good.” He laughs.

“Now you’ve got her all excited.” Her mother scolds. “Shh…Sleep my child, it’s only a hop 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.
The stale smell of nothingness fills her, the vibration of the engine sooths her. But nothing can keep it away. Not even as Nala closes her eyes, she can still see it. Out of the front window she can see it. The face of the truck that is going to hit them. All she can make out it just the tip, the nose of the thing as it waits to pounce on them. To take them away from her again, every night. Over and over.
“Seamus, LOOK OUT!” Her mother yells but it’s too late. The tires to their car squeal, her mother screams. And the horn blows. With a force she feels every night, Nala and her family are tossed to the side as the truck sideswipes them. The deafening sound from the collision of metal on metal, the shattering of the glass and the last desperate cries of her mother and father fill her completely.
Nala shoots up from her sleep, petrified and sweating from her nightmare. Her hair encompasses her face but harsh breaths cause it to flutter with each exhale. Nala breaths deeply and combs her hair back with her hands to calm herself.
“Nala…” Dhm'Ni says softly. He had been up less then ten minutes from his own frightening dream, and only then did he see Nala tossing and turning in her sleep. He just watched her for a while, she softly whimpered here and there, almost like she was in pain. And when she suddenly bolted up and began panting, he knew something was wrong.
“Hello gorgeous.” Nala she gasps. “Sorry if I woke you, I was having a bad dream.” He was about to try and say she didn’t wake him but Nala fall back to the pillow and sighs. “Please tell me it’s not time to wake yet.” Dhm'Ni softly laughs at her, time hadn’t restarted yet, meaning it wasn’t midnight.
“No.” He says bluntly. “No close.” Nala yawns and mumbles ‘good’ but doubted Dhm'Ni understood her. She pulls up the furs and wraps the pelt around her, but a sudden sting in her palm makes her stop and look. Dhm’Nis ring was still in her hand, and the trembling from her dream had caused it to cut her skin. Thankfully though it wasn’t enough to make her hand bleed, but it stung like it did. If it had made her bleed, Dhm'Ni would freak. Nala moves it from one hand to the other and hugs the softest fur she had ever felt. Dhm'Ni couldn’t fall asleep so easily though. He was going over what Nala had said to him. And was angry at himself for not saying more, granted he couldn’t say a lot, but he should have said something like ‘ok’ or at least ‘yes’ but he only said that Dyne was bad.
‘…you make me feel so safe’ is what she said right? How can Nala feel safe with me? Then or now? All we have done since the moment we met was fight. But maybe now it will be more then that. She said she wishes to talk to me, not like we’re friends but because we are friends. I do dread what she will talk of though. I don’t know exactly what Sya told her of mating but she did say something about N'dui'se, our mating musk. I wonder if she knows about Dhyot’te’ka and the musk he was pumping out for her when they fought. She most definitely smelt it but she may not have pieced it together. Should I tell her? No, she will have to get Sya to because I cannot speak with her yet. I will have to make sure Sya tells her to stay away from him. But does she need to stay away from him, really? Nala absolutely needs stay from Dyne, I will kill him if he tries anything! And he will, I know it! Sya knows it too but Nala doesn’t. She knows to stay clear of him and that is good enough, for now. But as for Dhyot’te’ka, knowing him, he will wait until the right time. He didn’t do any rituals of any sort, he was just aroused by her. Aroused by Nala… I can see why but I cannot see her mating. Particularly not with him. He has killed more Oomans than some can even count, and he has surly brought some on board and will most likely show Nala in an attempt to woo her. He will have better luck showing her his Combat Staff.
Dhm'Ni silently laughs at his stupid joke. Sighing, he quickly scratches a funny itch on his stomach and turns on his side to fall asleep once more. Hopefully…

Dhm'Ni yawns and stretches as he rustles awake. He extends his legs and arches his back before even opening his eyes, and a tough grunts bellows from him. An extremely annoyed groan echoes on the room when he remembers that he slept in a hammock and would have marks from the rope on his back for hours. Dhm'Ni sits up and painfully rubs a few of the lines. He couldn’t help but hiss and he completely forgot about Nala.
“You are very loud when you wake.” She yawns. Dhm'Ni kicks himself mentally for waking her, but she was already awake, kind of. She knew she wasn’t sleeping any more but she didn’t want to wake yet. Right in between the two ways a really living and then Dhm'Ni decided to mess it up. “Is it time to get up then?” Dhm'Ni looks to the time and laughs because for the first time in about five seasons, he slept past the tenth hour. It was a bit past the eleventh but he was ok with that. Yesterday had been a trying day and he needed as much sleep as possible.
“Yes.” He answers her. Dhm'Ni jumps out of the hammock and walks into the bathroom before Nala could steal it. He wouldn’t bathe though, that would be saved for later when she wasn’t around. He just didn’t want to have her around when he relaxes, not yet anyways.
Nala didn’t really care that Dhm'Ni went in first. She turns onto her stomach and cuddles up to the long pillow. It was made of something she had never felt before. Soft but firm. Perfect. What’s more was the pelt of fur was heavy, just how she liked it. But what amazed her, was that it actually kept her cool. When she woke, she could feel a difference between the warmth over the pelt and under. Like it was meant to cool you down but that’s ok. It helped her sleep. Nala yawns again just as Dhm'Ni walks back into the bedroom.
“Sya wants you to call him on the COM thingy.” She mumbles while walking to have a quick bath. She couldn’t wait to use the bath after she saw it for the first time. It was so tempting. And the same size as a small pool. But Dhm'Ni would need the length. What she hadn’t noticed until she stripped and kneeled by the bath, was that on one side it was oddly sloped. It would be perfect to rest against rather then a straight edge. Nala quickly found those small silver buttons near said sloping side and presses the cold one like she was told. She half expected the water to come from a hole in the wall, like it does with the sink, but to her surprise the water starts to fall from the ceiling. It streamed down from a small hole, creating a beautiful waterfall like image as it starts to fill the giant pool. The flow wasn’t too far away from her thought, Nala had to stick out her hand to check the temperature and once it was just right, she slides in and rests against the slope.
“Good morning Dhm'Ni.” Sya grumbles as he is let in to their room. Dhm'Ni was quick to offer greetings as well and they soon start the mundane task of going over what Nala needs to do that day.
“Must she have the implants done?” Dhm'Ni asks, a little apprehensive about her getting them. “There is a reason we have them done and two seasons old. Old enough to know, young enough to forget…”
“She has no other options I’m afraid. It will be painful, but I think she will be able to handle it.” Sya was slowly making his way to the bathroom door, he wished to see Nala and tell her a few more things before they go. But Dhm'Ni says she is in the bath, so he would have to wait.
“Is she to have the surgery done today as well?”
“I have yet to speak with Kh’Cho about it. But when we go to him for Nalas implants, we will speak then. How long ago did she go in?” Sya inquires.
“Not five minutes.”
“Nala…” Sya nocks on the door so that it wouldn’t open but so she knew he was there.
“YEAH!” He hears from inside.
“May we come in?”
“Sure!” Dhm'Ni didn’t want to go in at first, he was hesitant to see her if she is bathing. But Sya went in like it was nothing and so he followed suit. But as Sya entered, he couldn’t find her. So he called out to her and she said she was in here but he couldn’t find her. “Boo!” Nala says quickly. She sits as straight as she could go in the bath, but still only the top of her nose and up could be seen.
“Are you sitting or lying down?” Sya asks laughter.
“Sitting, if you can believe that!” Dhm'Ni couldn’t even hold back a light chuckle, she was so small. The height of the bath over cast her own by at least five inches and she had to stretch to look over the edge. “So what is it that you want to talk about?”
“It about today’s to-do list I am afraid.” Sya walks closer to the bath and to Dhm’Nis shock, Nala didn’t seem to care as he sat extremely close to the edge. He however would stay a little further back. “We are to go and see the Awu’asa maker whose name is Kaine. But he will not be making just you Awu’asa alone. He is to make you a lot of other wears as well. For example, when we are not on hunt, we dress in casual wear. Just a simple loincloth and shoes. But there is also formal wear, ceremonial dress and even sleep wear for you. But it is all up to you as to what it looks like.”
“That’s going to be a problem.” Nala had continued to clean herself, even as Sya sat down. But he never took his eyes from her head, so she didn’t mind. “I am very bad a choosing clothes.”
“We will have to discuss it with him when we get there. But when he finishes with you, you are to get you implants done. And from then, we will see what we can do to pass the day. But hurry along. We have a lot to do.”

Nala felt a little more then exposed as she stands there, arms high in the air with out a sweater or even the Alsn on because Sya told her not to wear any that day. This Kaine guy was measuring her body like there was no tomorrow. First her main parts, height, hips, shoulders. And then he went on to her arms and legs, breasts and even the curve of her buttocks. At the moment though, Kaine was looking at the curvature that her back had as she changes positions. Arms up, arms down. One shoulder raised high, another low. She was kind of embarrassed a little as he pokes around her body. But Sya reassured her that he was a professional, and wouldn’t do anything out of conduct. They were currently settled in Kaines private shop in the back, Dhm'Ni was standing by the closed door, trying his hardest not to look at all the scars on her back, but he was failing in his attempt. The bite mark on her left butt cheek was still eludes him in the ‘what did it’ department, but it was still something to look at. The one that he was staring at intently though was from the Hard Meat tail. Every time Dhm’Nis eyes fall on it, he feels the strangest pain in his stomach. He wasn’t sure if it was from the anger of himself for not saving her, or for his father for not doing anything. But that was the past and now Nala is here for her future. Here, with the Yautja. With him.
“Kaine is done measuring.” Sya tells her. He had to translate between the two. “He wishes to know of what you will use to bind you hair.”
“Bind my hair?” Nala asks while getting her clothes on. “Like you guys?” Sya nods ‘yes’ to her and Nala goes quiet. She didn’t know she was going to be changed like that, but that’s awesome. “Well, I don’t really know. What color is my Awu’asa going to be? Because from that I can decide. What would I even use to do that to my hair?”
“You can use any number of items. But if I may suggest, using the bone form the Queen.” Sya says softly and then tell Kaine who seemed very pleased with the idea. “Kaine tells that your Awu’asa’ will be a mixture of white and gray, would you like to see it?” Nala was quick to say she did and Kaine left the room for a moment. “There is something else he wished to ask of me, but I am not sure of how to ask it.”
“Just say it, that will help.” Nala laughs. Sya sighs at her roughly, then turns to pick up a bundle of metal that she hadn’t noticed until then. He opens the collection and reveals a bra like thing. Nala raises an eyebrow in misunderstanding as to what he wished to know.
“Our females are not built as…soft as you and so the way they are held is different. They may not cover you completely.” Nala mouths ‘oh’ as she gets the idea. She takes the small metal bra and holds it up to her chest but the second she had it against her, she knew something was wrong.
“These won’t even cover me!” She whispers. Dhm'Ni silently laughs to himself, their females are more exposed then she would like. Female Yautja breasts are as tough as muscle when they are not breast feeding pups, so they don’t really need to have complete coverage. But from what he saw of Nala before, she would need it. “We have to tell him that I cannot wear anything like this!”
“I know little one. That is why he asked me to show you. Our females are built differently then you.”
“You know, I haven’t seen a female yet.”
“That’s because there aren’t any on this ship.” Nalas mouth falls, she barely got out the question as to why there aren’t any. “This is a DropShip. We use this ship to travel to other worlds. There are also other kinds of ships, but the one where the females live is on the Clanship. That is where all of the members of our clan rest when not hunting.”
“How many are on the ship anyways?” The thought had never crossed her mind before now.
“There are little more then two hundred hunters, less then seventy five servants and attendants. Seven Arbitrators, not including myself, and one clan leader.” Just then, Kaine came back with a small sheet of metal and he hands it to Nala. It was beautiful to say the least. It was the color of a rain cloud, a mixture of gray and white and it was stunning. Kaine fiddles with her hands until the metal was placed against her leg skin and it was a wonderful contrast. Dhm'Ni even walks from his spot to look and comments that it will look odd, but nice. Sya holds back the remark from Nala, telling Dhm'Ni to tell her that himself when she can understand him. Kaine starts to talk to Sya again, but it was a long sentence by Nalas standards. “When Kaine treats the Queen, the color of the bone will be a few shades darker gray then this. It will look wonderful. I told him of the fitting problem and he suggested a more appropriate covering. However, the concept to the Awu’asa will be open. Everything will be crisp, clean and exposed almost.”
“No.” Nala sternly declines. “I want one like Dhm’Nis. Well, not exactly like his, but the same idea. I don’t want an opponent to know what kind of arsenal I have. I want to keep it a surprise.” Sya quickly tells Kaine what she said and he got mad! He snorts out loud and turns away from her, clicking and growling something that made both Sya and Dhm’Ni burst laughing. “What?”
“He says that you and Dhm’Ni are too alike. So plain and boring when it comes to the Awu’asa.” Sya laughs.
“Then I’ll make you a deal.” Nala walks up to Kaine. “You give me the Awu’asa I wish for…” Sya had been translating the whole time so the Kaine could understand. But Kaine was clearly getting angrier and angrier as Nala went on. “And I will give you free reign of EVERYTHING else.” Instantly, Kaine face softens at the idea. Free reign… On everything else. That means her ceremonial, casual, sleep wear…everything made by him. When ever someone would look to her, they would see him as well. “What’s wrong with him?” Nala whispers. Kaine was clearly ‘not with them’ any longer.
“He is deep in thought.” Sya laughs. He snaps Kaine out of his spell and tells Nala that he has accepted her offer. Just as they were about to leave to go to Kh’Chos, a very scary thought came into Nalas mind as she twists around to Kaine.
“No dresses. Tell him Sya, I will not wear any dresses! If he dresses me in dresses I will go insane!” When Sya told him, he didn’t seem disappointed at all.
“Kaine wishes to tell you that you do not seem like a dress wearing female.” Now Nala laughs. She waves good bye to Kaine and he nods to her.
“So…off to get those metal things in me, huh?” Nala asks, a little afraid of what Sya said before.
“That reminds me, Dhm'Ni, COM your father. He asked to be there when it happens.” Dhm'Ni, instead of taking the lift with them, turns to walk the stairs to get his father. He was a little apprehensive about being there when it happens. When Dhm'Ni had his done, thankfully he can’t really remember the pain, hence the age of when it’s done, he was dreading the walk to the healers to get it done. But he had his mother with him. He had someone there to hold him as the pain came and went. Nala does have Sya, but Dhm'Ni was fearing he may do something stupid, like try to comfort her himself.

Lord Khupiee and Dhm'Ni walk in together to see that Kh’Cho had made Nala strip and place Alsn on her chest and waist, and was beginning to place the small implants over her body. When Nala was first shown the dime sized things they didn’t seem so bad. But then Kh’Cho activated it to show her what was going to happen and she got scared. A small knife like blade would extend from the bottom of the implant into her skin, then spread the newly formed cut to allow the implant to fall into the wound and then it would close. Leaving the implant in and the blade out. But what really made her stomach turn, was how many they were placing on her. She counts twenty five of them. One on her forehead, two one each temple, the top of each jaw and one of her chin. One on each shoulder, the front and back of her forearms, each elbow, upper arms and then on the back of her hands. One right in her navel, one on each hip, two on the front of each thigh and one on the back. One on her each knee, the front and back of her leg and one on each foot. Nala was clearly anxious about it. She actually looked rather funny to Dhm'Ni. He had never seen her to jumpy. When he and his father entered, she actually leaped in the air a little. Her heart beat could practically be heard from the hallway and her breathing was deep.
“Don’t worry little one. There will be pain but it will go within a few minutes.” Lord Khupiee walks up to her and places a hand on her shoulder.
“I know but still.” Nala sighs.
“Is there anything I can do?” Nala didn’t think the question to be so off, but then Sya and Dhm'Ni stop to look at Lord Khupiee, she knew something was up.
“Why do they look at you like that?” She asks him but Lord Khupiee just laughs.
“Clan leaders do not often offer comfort to others.” He smiles down to her.
“Well, you can help but you may not want to do it. I was going ask Sya but if you want to.”
“I would be honored to help.”
“Alright. Sit down with your back against the wall.” Lord Khupiee gives her an inquisitive look but does as she asks. He was glad that it was only his son, his second in command and the healer were here or he would get an ear full about sitting like that. He did wonder what Nala wanted him to do but he got his answer when she walks up to him, then sits in his lap. “Hold me down, gently though! I don’t want to stand up with broken bones.” She laughs. Lord Khupiee gently grabs her hands then wraps them around her. He even brought his legs closer to her to hold her down, he knew it was going to get very bad before it gets better. “You got a piece of leather or something for me to bite on?” She asks to whom ever can understand her. Sya left the room for a moment and returned with a strip of wet Alsn. He explains that when wet, it is tough as any metal but still soft now for her to bite on. Nala funnily opens her mouth for him to place it in and once it was, she bit down to test it. It will work just fine. Nala exhales a heavy sigh, then nods to Kh’Cho.
Nalas entire body stiffens when she feels the initial prick. At first she thought that was it, but not a second later, she as proven wrong. The cutters slot in to her skin and Nala moans in pain and bites down on the Alsn. It got even worse when she feels her new wounds being pushed open. Lord Khupiee puts more strength in holding her as Nala starts to try and pull her hands away from his, wiggling and moaning in agony. Soon enough, the metal implants are dropped into her skin and the blades close. But that wasn’t all. Just when Nala thought it was done, Sya and Kh’Cho run to her and start pulling out the blades that were left sticking out of her skin. Dhm'Ni tried to hold back for them to do it. But he couldn’t just stand here and listen to her any more so he dashes to the one side left open by Sya and the healer. He gets to her arm and starts to gently pull the blades out. Sya stops for a moment to look at him, he didn’t think Dhm'Ni would help her at all, and here he was, pulling the cutters from her. When all blades were out of her front, Lord Khupiee leans her forwards for them to get the ones on her back. And once they were out, he pulls Nala back to him and starts to comfort her by purring. Sya takes out the Alsn to help her breath better and she groans in appreciation. Nala closes her eyes and tries to calm herself, the purring from Lord Khupiee was vibrating her so much that she would have gladly slept right then and there but she kept herself from going that far.
“That went better then I anticipated.” Kh’Cho trills in pride and walks away. He suggested letting Nala rest for a few minutes, and in the mean time, he had some news. “I don’t know how she may feel of it, but I am ready to alter her.” Sya stands and walks to Kh’Chos side to see what will be done if she has it today. Not only are they changing her speech, but they are going to repair past injuries. Her knee for one thing will be an easy procedure. It is simply creating new cartilage with gels but as for her other ones. That may be a little trickier. Kh’Cho he plans to re-brake Nalas left leg and then use calcium enriched paste to heal it and reset it properly.
“She took it better then you did.” Lord Khupiee says to his son, who had yet to leave Nalas side. “You have yet to roar louder then you did on that day.” He laughs.
“I do not remember you being there.” Dhm'Ni says in confusion.
“You cannot remember a lot from that day can you?”
“No I guess not. But that is the point.” Dhm'Ni smiles to Nala when she opens her eyes to look at him.
“Hard Meats worse.” Nala moans. The two start to thrill in laughter and Sya asks what was so funny.
“She said that getting hit with a Kaine Amedha tail is worse. I guess we now have a true blue statement as to which is actually more painful.” Lord Khupiee says but never once did he stop purring to her.
“Do you wish to tell her, or should I?” Sya walks back them and kneels in front of Nala. He unintentionally shifts a little, fidgeting on his spot and Nala noticed.
“Oh no…” Nala starts shaking her head. “Yautja don’t squirm. What is it now?” Sya softly laughs at her words, she was right. Yautja don’t usually squirm.
“Kh’Cho is ready to alter you. But he wishes to do more then just that.” It took a moment, but Sya explained everything that would happen and Nala was more excited then afraid about it now. “It will take the better part of the day and then you will probably wish to sleep again but by that time, it would be appropriate. You will almost instantly be able to understand Yautja, but the swelling in your ears may take time to go down. But it will take days for your throat to heal enough for you to speak. Whether that’s a plus or minus…” Sya shrugs his shoulders but Nala was quick in punching him playfully.
“I think today is a day to get the worst over with, don’t you?”

Next thing she knew, Nala was waking up to Syas smiling face.
“Good evening little one. How are you feeling?” Nala knew not to try and say anything, Sya told her not to even try because it will just hurt her. She looks around the room slowly, while the whole time trying to get the taste of steal out of her mouth with her tongue. Kh’Cho was standing by her with Lord Khupiee and Dhm'Ni by the door. While Lord Khupiee smiles at her, Dhm'Ni was emotionless. He wasn’t even looking at her. She tried to ask what’s wrong but all she got was pain from her throat. In truth, nothing was wrong. While Nala was out, they all talked of a few things she said, Dhm’Ni even went to bathe. But right now Dhm’Ni was deep in thought about what he was going to say to her now. He never heard Sya greet her, he only looked to her when she whines in pain from the sting of trying to talk. Before he could stop himself, Dhm'Ni was at her side at looking down into her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Dhm'Ni blurts. Nala just sighs and smiles. He had never looked at her like that before, well...once actually. When she was in the giant room with the pyramid and Dhm'Ni approached her. It was the same concern, the same need to help and keep her safe. But Dhm'Ni was still staring at her, she needed to say something so she motions to her mouth. “Thirsty?” She nods ‘yes’ to him and smiles again.
“Can you sit up?” Sya asks. He got his answer when Nala slowly rises while Dhm'Ni walks to small pack that Sya made him get together in the event she was hungry or thirsty. “Are you tired? You seem to be a little out of it.” Nala gradually smiles, nods then chugs the flask of water. “Alright well, you will be recovering for at least the rest of the night but tomorrow when you will wake then change into any armor we can find for you to fight Lidch. And then you and I will train for a few hours before you two fight. Now it is time for you to sleep.” Kh’Cho approaches her while she was just about to get off and he starts to talk but she only got bits and pieces. In mid sentence, Nala brings her and up and motion to her ears then shrugs her shoulders.
“Kh’Cho said that you should COM him if you have any difficulties hearing after a few hours. You may have trouble for about five more minutes but if it doesn’t clear up then you should come back here.” Sya says very slowly in Ooman for her. She nods in understanding to Kh’Cho and she leaves the healer with all three right behind her. Even before the lift came, an undefeatable bout of sleepiness hits Nala like a punch and she leans on Sya to keep herself up. “Nala, are you alright? Do you need to go to Kh’Cho?” She quickly shakes her head ‘no’ and smiles but she tired to motion that she is really tired by placing both hands on a side of her head, to show that she is sleeping then look back up at him. Sya simply sighs and gently runs his and through her hair. When the lift doors opened though, and Sya walks in, Nala couldn’t go with him and just about fell over. She was standing like she was drunk, wobbling around, leaning to one side and then the other. “I think you need more help then you think.” He laughs at her as he walks back to her side. Nala would have protested immensely when he tenderly picks her up. But once she wraps her arms around his giant neck, and Sya carefully ensnares her in his arms, she instantly fell asleep in his embrace.
“You truly act as though she is your pup.” Lord Khupiee remarks.
“I know.” Sya plainly barks back. “But she needed somewhere to sleep and I am the best place until we put her in bed.”
“Speaking of best places…” Lord Khupiee trails. “Ykas’e has informed me that the entire ship wishes to witness her first challenge fight. But the training deck couldn’t possibly allow all to enter or watch. So, for this one and only time, I will allow a non death fight in the upper deck.”
“You cannot be serious!” Dhm'Ni says in surprise. “I can understand that the ship wishes to watch but to allow it in the U'sl-kwe deck.”
“Would you like to pack over two hundred male Yautja on the training deck when one right above it can properly house them and give them all suitable seating to observe?” Sya says in a serious tone.
“I guess it would be better to watch.” Dhm'Ni gives in to the idea.
“I anticipate that Nala will have fun. She knows that he is an Unblood and not that experienced. I think she will play with him as she did with you Dhm'Ni.” Sya laughs.

If it hadn’t been Sya holding Nala like a pup, the entire deck would have openly laughed at the sight. Lord Khupiee had stayed on the lift to go to his own room while Sya carried Nala to her and Dhm’Nis room. Nala suddenly moans and moves her head so that she was nestled into Syas neck. She tightens her hold on him as they enter the room and Sya was a little concerned that she may not let him go. But Dhm'Ni suggests simply let her feel the pelt of fur and sure enough, the second her skin touched it, she released her death grip on his neck in exchange for the pillow. Sya covers her with the bedding and turns to Dhm’Ni.
“Perhaps you can speak to her in her in the morning then. She has been through to much in the past few days and she needs you. She even said it but I think you need to say that you will be there.” He says softly as he starts for the door.
“I have been mentally making a checklist so I can say everything I wish to. I tend to forget myself when I am in a room with her. Last time we really spoke, I said that her kind tastes good with the right sauce.” Dhm'Ni softly laughs. Sya sighs as he says good night to leave him to sleep.

Nala was almost bored to tears as she watches Dhm'Ni pace back and forth in their room. She woke up better then the last time she remembers and about ten minutes later Dhm'Ni was up as well. But he didn’t le t her have a bath. He said he wished to speak to her. He also joked about her not being able to speak back so it was a good trade from when she did it. But after those words, Dhm'Ni went quiet and started to walk around the room. Nala couldn’t exactly tell him to talk, her voice had yet to return, and so when it became too much, Nala covertly picks up one of her metal shoes and hurls it and Dhm’Ni. He however saw it coming and skillfully caught it in mid air only to throw in to the ground.
“Got the message, just…Give me a minute.” He actually took about five more minutes before he finally turns to her. But he just looks at her, not saying a word and then he suddenly walks right up to the bed, which Nala was sitting on, and falls to his knees in front of her. Nala gives him a warm smile and a soft tilt of her head, but he still doesn’t talk. She sighs loudly and moves closer to him until she was sitting on her knees about a foot away. Nala looks him right in the eye and then moves her hand from the base of her neck to the top of her mouth and out while opening her mouth. Telling him in her motion to talk.
“The first thing I am going to say was the last thing I wished to say in this discussion. The male I warned you of is most definitely someone to be wary of. His name is Dyne and he is one who thinks he is above my fathers’ word. He is the son of an Elder who is coming here to judge you, so you will have to be even more careful because of what he will and will not say. But if he tries ANYTHING you must tell us. And do not kill him, that wouldn’t look good to his father.” Nala silently laughs and smiles at the odd warning. “And as for you asking about ‘N'dui'se’, I will tell you anything you wish to know but Sya is probably one you should talk to of that sort of thing. I am having a hard time with even the idea of you mating.”
“Thank you!” Nala squeaks but is punished for it. The white Alsn, used to wrap her neck, wasn’t itchy but it was constricting. Nala puts her hand on her chest then with the same one, motions to him.
“You feel the same way?” He asks and Nala nods ‘yes’. “Perhaps in time you will be more comfortable with the idea. It took my father many seasons to mate after my mother.” Nala was a little taken aback, she had never heard Dhm'Ni speak of his mother before. “But now is not the time. Now is the time for me to talk and you to listen because I wish to tell you many things as well. Nala, when I showed you my face I didn’t really know why I did it. Maybe it was because I was comfortable enough to do it but I did it and now I must deal with it. But it is reassuring to know that I made you feel safe because of that. And I sincerely apologize to you for everything. I don’t even know how long the list is of how I had hurt you, whether physically or mentally because I know I can change between good and bad in a second and I have no excuse for it. You don’t know everything of our world yet Nala. It is like you are a newborn but a newborn that can kill Hard Meats.” Nala sarcastically shrugs like it was nothing. “And now that I understand you, I wish for you to understand me. I wish to be your friend Nala. I truly do. I have never met anyone like you. And I am not talking about you being Ooman. I can’t understand how you can deal with what is on your back but I have to say, I am impressed with how you are doing it. But if you ever need to talk, about anything, whether it be about musk or who you beat up sparring that day, I will be there when you need me because for one thing I want to and for another, we are living in the same room so it is expected that we have some conversation other then an exchange of fists. I…I know that…” Dhm'Ni sighs and shakes his head as he lowers it out of shame. He didn’t know how he was going to say this next part. But when he feels Nalas hands on the side of his face, forcing him to look up again, he knew he had to say it no matter what.
“Talk.” She says with great pain once again.
“I know I haven’t protected you in the past. Not from anything. But I swear to you Nala, I swear on my life that I will always be there for you, I will always protect you. I want to keep you safe.” He finally got it out there and Dhm'Ni just had to close his eyes and inwardly praise himself for it. When suddenly, Dhm'Ni feels something warm on his face, right above his eyes brows. He opens his eyes to see Nala leaning over to him and pressing her lips on his head. When she sits back again, Dhm'Ni didn’t know what to say.
“Thank you.” Nala says softly and out of joy. Never in her life had anyone ever said that to her and she felt like they could keep the promise. Not until Dhm'Ni.
“Are we good?” Nala smiles at him and nods. “Good. Because I think Sya is going to be very angry for us taking so long. He is with Kaine now, waiting for us.” Nala jumps off the bed and together they go to K'daai after Dhm'Ni explains what that word meant.

“Easier to wear nothing.” Nala squeaks. She couldn’t understand why they were asking her to wear such odd armor when she isn’t used to the weight. It would bring her down because she hadn’t trained with it and even if she did train with Sya with what ever it was they asked her to wear, she still wouldn’t be able to work with it.
“You must wear armor.” Sya tries to say but in truth, she didn’t really. “You must protect your neck and your body. You cannot fight one of us with out some kind of armor.”
“Have before. Worked fine.” It was becoming easier to talk now, her throat wasn’t feeling like sand paper every time she breathed. But it was still forceful to speak so she tired to do it as less as possible.
“You may not need to wear all armor on your entire body Nala.” Kaine, in finally be able to speak with her, had lots to say. “But you must have something over your neck to protect the surgery’s consequence. The Unblood with use it to his advantage. And your Hard Meat scar. But as for all over your body, that it up to you.” Sya hisses in annoyance as glare at Kaine for telling it like it is. Kaine didn’t really care though. He and Sya have always been friends so a simple hiss wouldn’t do anything.
“I wear what must but not all over.” Nala says to Sya. She didn’t need to convince the others. Dhm'Ni was sure that she would go in and come out devoid of injury. Sya was worried though, and he had reason too.
“Lidch is an Unblood Nala. You must remember that. He will do anything to make a name for himself and he may do something stupid like try to kill you. I know you look at this like a fun thing, but you have to see it with a more serious outlook. This is not playtime Nala. This is real.”
“I understand. But I can not,“ Nala had to stop for a moment, to keep the pain down to a minimum. “Work with weight I am not used too. Bad.” Sya sighs in defeat, perhaps forcing her to wear something that she cannot carry will be the one thing to get her hurt.
“Fine but we will go train then to get you ready. But you cannot wear what you have on now. No pockets, no strings, no hoods. Kaine has yet to make you something you can wear so you must use Alsn. It may even aid you because it soaks sweat and hides odor.” Sya was thinking more about the odor part. Nala was going to be a little exposed and Lidch may pick up on her scent. Nala says she understands and they leave Kaine to do what ever he wished with her garments.

“Stop playing!” Sya roars as Nala playfully jabs what he called a training glaive at his back. She had been doing this since they got into the training deck. Sya told her how to properly enter and bow, all of that, but when they started to spar, Nala started to play.
“Why?” She gets out.
“Because this is serious.”
“Why?” Sya growls in annoyance. Dhm'Ni on the other hand laughs.
“Other then the fact that this is your first real fight with another Yautja, you seem to think this is all fun and games!” Without warning, Sya charges Nala again but she was fast in spinning out of his way. But as she came out of her spinning, she hits him on the back again. He roars once more before turning and charging again. And yet again Nala simply jumps out of his way. But this time, she decided to play up. Nala starts to bombard Sya with hit after hit from the glaive, that instead of blades at either end had metal balls, and she starts to dance around him. Moving her feet as she so fast that even she didn’t know what they were doing. But she was doing it! Dhm'Ni had to concentrate on her feet as she moved, they were calculated, designed, even premeditated. They knew where to go even before Nala knew they were moving at all. It was amazing. Sya, however, didn’t think it so nice, as he was on the receiving end of the attack.
“Enough.” Sya grabs the training glaive before it hits him once more so he could regain his composure. “Show me how you do that.”
“Do what?” She squeaks.
“Show me how you move your feet so fast. You did it with the Hard Meat and now me. How do you do it?”
“Teach after spar.”
“Well, I say we are finished sparring so it is after. Tell me.” Nala involuntarily starts to silently laugh at him, she even bends over as she tired to cope with what just happened.
“Okay. Watch.” Nala didn’t really know how she was doing it. Her feet just did it. But she knew why she did it. When she was younger, before she entered the Academy, Nala would take dance classes at the local community center just to get away from home and she learnt a lot of things. And the one that made her feet do as they do, Salsa. Every time she would dance, whether it be Salsa, or Tango or even Ballet, her feet you keep it locked up in memory and then all the sudden she would brake into a routine when she would fight and that would help her move so fast, to use moves never seen before and she would win. Always out moving her opponent, literally staying one step ahead of them. But now she had to teach Sya. “Learn moves then change as you wish.” Sya nods to her and watches as she slowly down starts to move her feet. Forwards, backwards, from side to side. Instep, flare out. And when he tired it, he got it right. And when Nala told him to go faster, he did. Faster she says and so he goes faster. But when he couldn’t go any faster, he growls at her, accusing her of making him look unusual. But she calmed him by saying, at least trying to say, that once his feet do it faster then he can even conceive of how they are doing it, then the move will show up in a fight.
“Sya, it is midday and the fight will start in an hour.” Dhm'Ni tells them both. “Some have already taken seats in the upper deck.”
“Why there?” Nala asks confused.
“The entire ship wishes to watch you Nala. But we cannot have them all in here. You will fight in a square that the one we were just in, but on the upper deck there is only one square where you will fight and the rest of the room is of stands for the watchers to sit. When you enter the room, you will choose what weapons you wish and then you will fight. But we should go and get you ready with the Alsn and your neck armor.”

Moments before Nala was about to step out of the stands and up to the wall of weapons, not unlike the one in the training deck, she was beginning to wonder if wearing armor was a good idea after all. She had wrapped the Alsn around her entire upper body, arms and all, but she stopped it just above her navel and then she wrapped a small pair of shorts. She was actually feeling a little exposed but then again, she didn’t care at the same time. She was a little afraid of the hundreds of eyes that were on her. So many of them she had yet to meet but as she scanned the crowd, she smiles to some that she does recognize. Like Thr’ik and Dhm'Ni who were sitting with Gik’ha and his friends. She even saw her chocolate friend but he didn’t look at her because he was talking with another Yautja beside him. Lord Khupiee and all the Arbitrators were sitting at the far end of the room, which was of course all black with red embellishments, in a sectioned off enclose where they could talk to one another and not have someone over hear them.
“How many weapons can I bring in?” Nala asks Sya. He couldn’t help put feel a great deal of pride in watching her get ready. While they were training she was playful, but the very moment she stepped into the U'sl-kwe deck, she turned into serious mode. Only asking when she needed to, always direct and right to the point. She never laughed or smiled one she got in. And Sya was actually in aw with her being able to switch so rapidly.
“You can bring as many as you can carry. When you win,”
“If.” Nala interjects, but Sya would have none of it. He gently grabs both of her shoulders to unsure that she was going to listen to him.
“When you win, you must take a trophy, a trinket of your battle just as you will do for every battle after this.” Nala silently agrees with him, with a funny idea as to what to take and she waits for Lord Khupiee to call each fighter to choose their weapons of choice.
“Silence.” Lord Khupiee says. Nala expected him to at least yell it or roar it or something. But he said it like he was talking to someone sitting next to him. But what amazed her even more, was that this room full of over two hundred Yautja, went deadly quiet. When it was so, Lord Khupiee stands from his chair and walks a few steps until he was standing alone on the edge of a small terrace. “This is the first fight for the one and only Ooman member of the Ehre Clan. From what we have seen, we know it will be done with honor and with skill like no other. Opponents, choose you weapons.”
At that Nala walks from Syas side and up to the wall of the most frightening weaponry. They were gruesome and yet elegant. Each one expertly crafted with the colors of the Ehre Clan, black and red. And each made Nala feel twisted but good twisted. She had the sudden urge to grab a blade and hurl it at this Lidch male, but she also wished to mess with him a little. As payment for the words he said about her. Nala takes hold of a small glaive, it was almost exactly like the one she and Sya were sparring with, but this one had the balls at the ended covered in small spikes. Nala didn’t plan on using that part of the weapon anyhow. She also took two long blades about a foot long each and walks to one side of the square to wait for her challenger. Lidch had chosen a combat staff that was curved in odd ways and double edged knife about the length of Nalas arm. Once he was in his spot, they nod to each other in recognition of the upcoming battle and wait for Lord Khupiee to start it.
“Begin.” He roars and sits back down.
Lidch instantly goes into a stance and slowly starts to walk around Nala. She on the other hand didn’t seem so aware that the fight had even begun. She solemnly walks into the centre on the square and does one of the strangest things anyone had ever seen. While taking her eyes off of Lidch, she bends at her knees and stabs the two blades she took as weapons onto the ground. She places them so the blades were horizontal with one another but there was at least a foot was between them. No one had a clue as to what she was doing, but Nala has it all planned out, down to where Lidch was standing at that very moment. When Nala was pleased with her work, she stands tall and slowly walks closer to Lidch. Once she was close enough, both he and Nala moving for a moment. But then she did her one move the both Thr’ik and Dhm'Ni were accustomed to. Nala falls into her stance while spinning the glaive behind her, around and around. And true with one who as not seen the move, Lidch was captivated by it and Nala actually fakes a charge. Lidch was snapped out of his spell and he gives her one of his most threatening roars he could, which didn’t even make her lungs shake, and charges at her full force. As to her plan, Lidch comes at her and she rolls away from him with her glaive expertly hitting him on the back of his head as she does so.
Nala stands relaxed and Lidch steadies his stance and once again, he roars as he charges. She was more then a little confused by him now. Why would he do the same thing? Perhaps he planned to make her confused and then he would do something that was to surprise her, but she was wrong. Lidch simply comes at her again and again Nala swivels from his path, but she wasn’t going to just hit him once and be over with it. No. It was time to play with him, and then she will win. Once he was a little ways away, Nala start to pummel his with blow after blow with her glaive. Hitting him on his legs, arms, back, front, head and particularly the back of his head. Nala only then realizes that her feet are doing what she was teaching Sya. They were moving so fast as they were doing it on there own, so she quickly changed her thought back to her plan so she didn’t jinx it and her feet would mess up. Lidch couldn’t get a hit in. Every time he tried to hit her with anything, she would duck, twist, or tumble away from him then hit him with her weapons. He had had enough and jumps to get away from her. Just as she planned. But what Lidch didn’t know was as he continuously roars before each charge, he would bend at the knee until it was almost a 90 degree angle and then charge. And Nala was now putting this unto her plan. But he wasn’t close enough yet. He needed to be on his back, on the ground about five feet farther away for her plan to work.
True to his form, Lidch crouches to roar, but even before he starts, Nala charges him. She runs up to the bent male and uses his own legs as stepping stones. She places on foot on his leg while the other was connects with his chin. Lidch instantly flies backwards and he hits the ground sliding back even further. It was perfect. But he was still not in then right position. Nala speedily run up to him, sits down straddling his chest, and uses his own armor to pick his groggy head up enough so that she could place it in between the two blades she placed in the ground before. And as she did so, his neck was perfectly unlined with the horizontal blades. In one swift move, Nala grabs the handles of the blades and pushes together, making it so she could easily cut off Lidchs head like they were scissors.
When his eyes finally focus, Lidch was met with the shiny cutting edge of the blades at his throat. He knew instantly that if he moved even an inch, they would cut through him in a moment. Nala was already standing from her sitting position and looks up to Lord Khupiee to signal that she had him trapped. That she had won. Nala walks completely off Lidch and to his side to wait for Lord Khupiee to declare her the winner. And once Lord Khupiee stands and walks to the end of the terrace to see it, he looks to her and smiles.
“Winner: Nalani.” He roars. Just then, a sound that made Nala go momentarily deaf, starts as the entire crowd of Yautja so insane! She never realized that it had been so quiet during her fight, but now she did. It took everything she had not to cover her ears from the deafening roars coming from all around her. But she had one more thing to do before she leaves. Nala leisurely walks back to Lidch and sits to his side so that he could look up into her face.
“No one cares how well you roar when you are in the middle of a fight.” She says as loud as she could over the roar. Nala takes one of his ringed tresses then uses one of the blades that still held him down to cut it off at the middle. In one tug it was cut and Nala slides off one of his rings. The writing was different then Dhm’Nis and Syas, so she guesses that they are personalized to the individual. And this will be her trophy from her challengers. One of their rings. Just as she took one from Dhm'Ni.
As tradition shows, Nala stands and leaves Lidch there on his back and walks to Sya who was positively beaming!
“That was beautiful.” Sya says as she walks to him. Nala simply smiles to him and nods in conformity to how wonderful that was.
“Now what?” She asks halfheartedly.
“Now… Now you shower, dress, eat then meet me to start your schooling.” There was a strange moment of silence after his words. Nala didn’t show any change in her face, she just looked up into Syas eyes.
“I have a very sudden urge to kick you for making me go back to school.” Sya just laughs at her and leads her out of the U'sl-kwe deck.


Authors Note: Oh my goodness!!! CHAPTER 20!!! I have twenty chapters…20!!! I think this is a momentums occasion for me!!! You may not think so, but I do!!!

Special thanks to…

On ff .net: swift hunter, Alix, ben revell, aquamum, and Oak Tree Woman. (As to the question from ben revell, I will be half using websites and half making it up.)
On aff .net: Prairiefire

I think I need to clear some things up here and now. I do have a new Predator story out, The History of Tomorrow (shameless plug), but some are confused about what I will be doing with this story and the new one. I WILL be updating and writing for both stories at the same time. I know it might be hard for me but I wish to do it. So please don’t think I will do one and not the other. I don’t want to disappoint my readers!
If you are still confused, email me!
E.M.