The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

The Day

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.

Nala didn’t even want to open her eyes as she hears the same vibration from the car engine. She hangs her head in despair as her mother asks ‘is my baby tired?’ for the umpteenth time. Even with her eyes shut tight, Nala could still see the light as it shines through her mothers golden blonde hair. The rustling of that dammed bag makes Nala groan in anger.

“Here you go sweetie.” Her mother says as she gently places the pacifier into Nalas mouth. The moment that small hand was away, Nala rips the thing out and she was about to sigh in misery when she hears the sound of a Yautja laughing. Instantly, she lifts her head and looks to the once unoccupied seat next to her to see Dhm'Ni looking at her with the funniest face.

“What was that thing that female put into your mouth?” He asks laughing.

“A pacifier, it’s to help sooth a baby. Why…Why are you here?” Nala asks.

“I don’t know. It’s your dream.” Dhm'Ni says cleverly.

“Well, I’ve never had someone else in this dream…” Nala whispers. This is too weird.

“Seems the little one is being fussy today.” Her father starts. “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’re 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!” As hard as she tried, Nala burst laughing and again, Dhm'Ni chuckles at her.

“You are so strange Nala.” He laughs.

“It’s a dream!” Nala says a little flustered and confused beyond anything.

“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.

“Who’s that?” Dhm'Ni asks, looking at the strange white haired female touch Nala.

“My mother…” Nala whispers. “And the plump redhead is my father.” She laughs. “So why am I dreaming of you? I have never seen anyone else in my dreams. Well, this is my only dream so…” She shrugs.

“Dreams are strange things Nala.” Dhm'Ni smiles at her and she smiles back just as warmly. “It is the nightmares that always plague us, is it not?”

“I suppose.” Nala turns to look out the front of the car and there is that dammed truck. “The next part is not going to be so fun. You may want to leave now.” She says sadly.

“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.” Slowly, Dhm'Ni extends his hand and grasps one of Nalas gently. Even here she feels safe with him. Nala lightly squeezes his hand and Dhm'Ni gives her a slight smile.

“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, her family and Dhm'Ni 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.

And then there was white. Nala found herself standing in a white room, on a white floor that as she look down, she could see her reflection looking back up at her.

“What is going on?” She asks out loud.

“I have no idea.” Dhm'Nis voice suddenly appears and she finds him standing to her left. “But it is getting quite annoying that you are asking me, a figment of your imagination, any thing at all.”

“Even in my dreams you just KNOW how to piss me off.” She says sternly and Dhm'Ni laughs at her. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Since I can remember it has only been this dream, only my mother and father and me. And now you.”

“What’s that?” Dhm'Ni points behind her and she twists around fast. And there, sitting in the middle of the vast white room were two chairs. One black and one white. But they did not have occupants.

“Am I still dreaming?” She asks confused.

“I don’t know. Perhaps you should wake up and see if you are.” Nala slowly turns to Dhm’Nis form to find him waving good bye.

“Wait!” She screams.

(End dream)

For the first time ever, Nalas eyes slowly open. She didn’t jolt awake, she didn’t scream. She wasn’t sweating, she wasn’t breathing roughly. Her eyes just naturally opened as they would to anyone else. But this confused her more then her dream. Why was Dhm'Ni there? No one else had ever been in her dreams. Not even Allen. She had never dreamt of him, but now Dhm'Ni is in her mind. Maybe it is because she feels so safe with him that he appeared there. To help her, to keep her safe. And what was with the two chairs?

When Nala tries to take a deep breath, she feels a strange heaviness on her. Like someone was holding her. When ever she and Allen were in bed, and not doing another thing you can do in bed, this is what it felt like. Apprehensively, Nala looks to what ever it was that was wrapped around her and finds an arm, a Yautja arm.

“What the hell?” She whispers baffled at what was going on. Slowly turning her head, Nala was met with Dhm'Ni behind her. Sleeping. On her, well his, bed. But he was on the bed with her, holding her as Allen would when they slept. The soft light that never seemed to go away was just enough for Nala to see him perfectly. Out of the blue, Dhm'Ni softly growls and his face start to contort in anger. His mandibles began to twitch furiously and his grip on Nala became tighter. When he did grip her firmer however, he seemed to calm down again. Delicately, Nala turns so she was on her back with her head still facing Dhm’Ni. Why would he be here? His hammock was still up. But what got Nala really questioning was what he so angry about. Was he having a nightmare too? Maybe that’s why he was laying with her.

Again, Dhm'Ni abruptly tightens his wrap around Nala and she had to stifle a squeak in surprise. But she soon became worried when Dhm'Ni began to whimper. The sound that came from him was so sad, it made something in Nalas chest tighten to almost unbearable. His face even showed his pain as he whined. It was heartbreaking. After a few minutes, his soft cry fell silent and Dhm'Ni was calm again. But his solid grip on her didn’t relent. Nala wasn’t sure what to make of herself as she was encompassed in Dhm’Nis giant arms because for one thing, she didn’t mind it. If anything it was comforting, like she had this unbreakable barrier that nothing bad could ever get to her as long as Dhm'Ni was there. As long as his arms were around her. But she was also a little uncomfortable. Granted she and Dhm'Ni were becoming close as any ‘roommates’ would be, maybe even closer as to what they share with each other. But sharing a bed? That thought had crossed Nalas mind when she was first told that she was going to be sleeping in the same room with Dhm'Ni. But then she didn’t want it. She was afraid of him. Although this time, it didn’t seem like such a bad thing…

“Mother…” Dhm'Ni barely whispers. Now she understood. If anyone could it was Nala. But she didn’t really know about his mother. They never really talked about it, the subject had never really come up. It wasn’t often people engaged in a ‘how your parents died’ discussion.

“Dhm'Ni.” Nala says softly but gets nothing for her gentle effort. “Dhm'Ni!” She says harsher and now he stirred a little. Skillfully easing an arm from Dhm'Nis lock, she reaches the small distance between her and him and readies her hand for another smack. “DHM’NI!” She almost yells and smacks him rather hard but didn’t seem to even notice. It was only when Dhm'Ni took a quick inhale did she knew he was awake. That’s how she would come around in the mornings. Like his lungs suddenly needed to be full to capacity to truly waken. But his eyes were still closed. “Dhm'Ni.” She says softly and slowly his eyes open. “Hello gorgeous.” She says rather confused, but she still keeps with her nickname for him. Instantly, Dhm’Nis eyes widen in realization and he gasps.

“I’m sorry.” He says quickly but he jolts out of bed even quicker. “I uhh…And you pulled me…Thought me to be Allen and I fell asleep! I’m sorry!” Dhm'Ni hurriedly back away from the bad and Nala as she stares at him with no emotion. She was just lying there with her eyes on him and he got into the hammock. Covering his eyes with his hands, Dhm'Ni couldn’t believe what he had done. He should have left when she turned over. He should have just gotten up and pretended it never happened.

Nala slowly sits up but never did she look away from him. Why did he run away though? She didn’t want him to go away! In mid thought, Nala had to use the pelt of fur to cover her mouth roughly as she sees the most hilarious thing in her entire life! Suddenly over in the corner, where a now very embarrassed Yautja was laying, began to glow as the radiant green blood that flowed in his body went to his cheeks in a blush, causing him to light up! She didn’t think Yautja could blush, but now she can see they can. But she doesn’t want him to feel embarrassed. It was clear now that it was because of him that her dreams were so…unsuccessful? They didn’t rattle her as they had ever done before. She had woken up as any other being and it WAS because of him. But it wasn’t just that. Something in Nala was calling, yelling at her to go back to him. To again be in him grasp, to have those arms that were so comforting around her again. Nodding to no one, Nala agrees with herself and starts to go off the bed. Once her feet were on the ground, she starts to pull they very heavy blanket with her until she was right up to Dhm'Ni.

“Dhm'Ni.” She says softy and he uncovers his eyes to look at her. “Either you are coming out, or I am coming in.” She says matter-of-factly.

“Wh…what?” Dhm'Ni stutters but she never gave him an answer when Nala suddenly heaves the fur up and over Dhm’Nis body and jumps up into the hammock with him. Before Dhm'Ni could move, Nala rests her had on one of his giant arms to use as a pillow and looks right into his eyes.

“This is the first time I am going to sleep in the hammock and the last time you and I are going to sleep in this hammock.” He just stares at her wide eyes and silent. “I will make you a deal. We will share that bed because I have noticed you hating this thing more and more and because I have never had such a peaceful nights sleep in my entire life.”

“Me too!” He blurts.

“Good. So tomorrow night we will both be in that bed because we want to. Alright?”

“Alright.” Dhm'Ni smiles at her.

“Now why were you all growly?” she asks concerned.

“Growly?” Dhm'Ni suddenly became self-conscience as to where his other hand should go so it simply rests it on his side.

“You were all mad and then really sad and then you whispered for your mother…What happened?” She asks as she turns into him, their eyes right in front of the others. With a heavy sigh Dhm'Ni starts to tell her everything. About his mother Ni’Atne, and even about the Nemico Clan and her connection and their plea that it was then who created the Arbitrators. But Nala had to hold back tears as Dhm’Ni showed her his scar over his pelvis. It was horrific, jagged and looked rather painful. Although, Dhm'Ni had to tell her with a smile that every night as he woke it would burn, except this night. And every night he would roar for his mother, except this night. Feeling like Dhm'Ni had shared something really important, Nala tells him of her dream. He even laughed as she told of ‘him’ pissing her off in her dream.

“Does anyone else know of your dreams?” She asks softly as sleep was slowly reclaiming them both.

“My father, Sya, Thr’ik and now you.” Dhm'Ni smiles at her.

“You don’t feel venerable for telling me now do you?” She laughs and Dhm'Ni playfully growls at her.

“No I don’t. And I have never regretted taking off my mask for you.” He looks at her seriously and Nala just nods to him. “Now we must sleep, I don’t want to have you sleepy tomorrow.”

“Tell me about it!” Nala turns her back to him and snuggles into the pelt of fur. “I have a lunch date with your father and the other Arbitrators. I would hate for the galley to be where everything bad happens to me because I like to eat!” She laughs. “Dhm'Ni…” She whispers and he just grunts. “Goodnight.” He grunts again and Nala smiles.

(The next day in the conference room)

After Nala told Sya about her and Dhm’Nis night, he couldn’t help but think that they were finally coming together. He did think it funny they were now sharing the bed but thought it wonderful that she and Dhm'Ni shared their dreams. Sya didn’t even know about Nalas past of how her parents died and was amazed that she told Dhm'Ni first but wasn’t hurt because of it. One thing that Sya became a little angry about was that she went to the baths. But once she told him about what she had ‘found’, he decided that today was going to be an anatomy lesson on the Yautja species. Nala was happy about that for more then just the information. She knew nothing about the Yautja body and she was going to use that day to know where the best spots to go for are. Once Sya told her how to use the projection that was in the middle of the table, he left to room saying she had to know something very important about her Awu’asa before she got it tomorrow and would be back soon. When he left, Nala sat up on the table and began to look at the muscle and bone structure of the Yautja body. Looking for the perfect places to hit.

“How did I know you would forget about lunch?” Lord Khupiees loud voice steals Nala from her studies.

“What time is it?” She asks. She looks up to see not only Lord Khupiee, but Inkle, Rathe, Bakkub and M’Ho.

“The twenty-ninth and one half.” M’Ho answers with a laugh. “We came here because Sya is known for not showing up for everyday appointments.”

“He just went to get something about my Awu’asa. At first I thought it was that Kaine may have finished before tomorrow, then I thought other wise.” They all laugh.

“What are you studying?” Bakkub walks and sits down in a chair next to Nala.

“Well, since you guys know about the Ooman body, I thought I would even the score.”

“And what have you learnt?” Lord Khupiee asks after he and the others all sit as well.

“Give me your arm and I will show you.” She laughs when Lord Khupiee shakes his head. “Anyone brave enough to give me their arm?”

“Since Lord Khupiee is not up to the task.” Bakkub smiles funnily at him and extends his hand to Nala who softly grabs it with her small hands at the elbow.

“Okay…so…” Nala says while thinking deeply. She takes one last look at the projection, which was zoomed in on the elbow, showing the muscle and how it was attached to the bone. “Does this hurt?” She says and abruptly stabs a fore and middle finger into Bakkubs arm. With a pain filled roar, he rips his arm away from her and stands up violently.

“WHY DID YOU DO THAT?” Bakkub roars.

“Its only pressure point.” Nala and the others laugh.

“I know it’s a pressure point, but why?” Bakkub sits back down while rubbing his bruised arm.

“Because I needed to know if they were in almost the same place as they are me so that I can use them to my advantage.” She says seriously. “But since you have tremendously more muscle then Oomans I needed to know where the best spots are. Like your back and arms. Even the muscles on your face can be used. But I need to know where they are to use them.”

“She hurt you didn’t she?” Sya says while walking into the room. “She has been studying since this morning.” Nala goes questionably quiet when he and two guards walk in behind him.

“What’s with the guards?” She asks softly but no one answers. They knew exactly what Sya was going to tell her.

“Nala,” Lord Khupiee takes her attention. “Perhaps you should sit for what Sya is going to say to you.” With no question in her mind, Nala swiftly sits down next to Bakkub who eyes her suspiciously, but with a faint smile. Nala follows Sya as he walks so he is sitting across from her and then the noticed that one guard was behind her and another behind Sya.

“This is serious Nalani.” Sya says sternly and she straightens in her chair. When Sya was ever truly serious he would tell her like that and use her full name. And she would always take it seriously. “When on a hunt, a Yautja prides themselves on being hidden. But we have already talked of that. But there is one other important fact that you should know about your Awu’asa before you wear it for the first time tomorrow.” He pauses and places the familiar wrist computer into the middle of the table. Nala knew not to just grab it, she would only touch it if Sya said it was alright to. “This is used for many things and one thing to ‘clean’. When I say clean, I mean to rid an area of evidence that a Yautja was there.”

“A bomb?” Nala says softly. Not really understanding what was being said to her.

“Yes, a bomb. If a Yautja on a hunt had been compromised, taken, or injured beyond help, they must self-destruct.” Sya pauses again to gage Nalas response but all he got was a stone face and silence. “We must not allow the knowledge of our species to come out until the species were are hunting become close or are at our level of technology and knowledge. We must not allow them to have our technology because they may do something stupid with it. Maybe cause a war on their own planet or worse with us. While the Yautja are not a war like species, we will do what we must to survive. To prosper. And so if on a hunt and your pray overwhelms you or you have just the thought that you will be captured, you must self-destruct. Do you understand Nalani?”

“I understand.” Was all she said.

“I did not think you would be so accepting of this.” Sya says a little skeptical of her reaction.

“The army I was in had something similar. While I understand, I do not like it. But if it needs to be done I will do it. But let’s hope it never comes to that.” Nala says very seriously and in a stern tone of voice. Sya sighs and smiles are her with pride. He nods to the guard behind her and his leans over to pick up the wrist computer. But as the male pulls back, he looks to Nala with a scowl.

“You better wipe that look of your face or I’ll punch it off.” Nala growls at him and he flinches at her tone. But quickly softens his face and almost runs out. “You guys run fast!” She laughs, soon followed by the others in the room.

“So are we going to go to mid day meal or do you want to keep playing ’who can Nala hurt now’?” Rathe thrills in laughter.

Dhm'Ni still couldn’t believe what had happened last night. In his dreams, it went on like they usually did but when it ended, he didn’t wake up. He only woke to find Nala awake and he would have sworn that when he opened his eyes to hers, his stomach nearly ran away. But they now have a deal. When Nala left that morning to go to her lessons, Dhm'Ni took down the hammock without another thought. There was something so comforting about that night. Something that made him feel like…What did he feel like? He knew that warm feeling. Like he was both being protected and protecting someone else. It was almost like he was with his mother again. That’s it! It was the same feeling as when his mother would hold him when he was a pup. When Ni’Atne held him, it was like they were protecting each other from anything and everything and now he had it again. After all these seasons. But with Nala? While that idea should have made him feel strange, it didn’t. Because it was Nala.

Just before mid day meal, Thr'ik used the COM to contact Dhm'Ni to see if Nala was going to the baths again that day and was very disappointed to hear other wise. But then a very evil and yet funny idea came to Dhm’Nis head and he invited his best friend over. Thr’ik will forever hate Dhm'Ni for this ‘peppermint’ c’jit. And Dhm’Ni now understands why Nala thought it was funny the day he and Sya tasted it. Thr’iks face went so awkward you would have thought a Hard Meat was coming out his chest. Another thing that got Thr’ik fuming was that Dhm'Ni had a secret to tell him but that he would tell him once the got to the galley.

“We are close enough, tell me!” Thr'ik growls as the lift took them to eat, too slowly for Thr’iks liking.

“No.” Dhm'Ni sighs with a soft smile.

“Come on!” Thr'ik pleads but got nothing from Dhm'Ni. So when the lift doors open and the two leisurely walk to an almost empty table, Thr'ik starts to appeal for the information once more.

“Alright, alright.” Dhm'Ni says after he and his friend order more food. There were only three others at the table. Kenin and Ojhm, who was one of the best pilots in the Ehre Clan and another Dhm'Ni didn’t know.

“What’s he going on about?” Ojhm asks and takes a swig of water from his flask.

“Dhm'Ni has a secret that he is going to tell us.” Thr'ik tells.

“I bet it’s about Nala.” Kenin smirks.

“May we?” Someone asks and they all turn to see Khanna and Nder. Dhm'Ni never really understood how both of these males could make him feel so different between the two. Khanna, he has never been able to defeat, and Nder, they have been such friends. The others at the table just motion for them to sit and the do so silently.

“It is about Nala isn’t it?” Ojhm asks. Dhm'Ni raises a hand to stop the questioning.

“It is about Nala.” He starts and rests back into his chair. “I have figured it out.” He says haughtily.

“Figured what out?” Khanna asks, confused about what was going on.

“Where is the little one?” Nder laughs. “I haven’t seen her to offer her my residence.” Everyone but Dhm'Ni starts to look at each other oddly. “Dhm'Ni is allowing me to offer my room instead of his for her to sleep in.” He says smugly. The others began to talk about how she and Dhm'Ni have spent their last night in that room together, but all through the tirade of laughs and mild insults, Dhm'Ni was unfazed. ‘She wouldn’t leave me now,’ he thinks to himself.

“We have gotten off topic!” Thr'ik almost roars. “Tell us now or I will squeeze that whole thing of peppermint c’jit down your throat!”

“You don’t need to be evil Thr’ik!” Dhm'Ni says truthfully. “I have figured out Nala scent.” Thr’iks eyes go wide as he waits what that fascinating aroma of Nalas was. “Phpy Blossoms.” Thr'ik suddenly slaps the table hard and begins to laugh.

“Nala does small like Phpy Blossoms!” Thr'ik thrills.

“No wonder why I could not figure it out.” Nder says calmly. “The moment I stepped into that room all I could small was blood and something I couldn’t quiet put my finger on. But you are right. She smells like Phpy Blossoms.” He smiles.

“Here comes your blossom now.” Ojhm points to the lift and they all turn to see Lord Khupiee, her and a few of the Arbitrators walk off the lift. Within seconds, the entire room hushes and stands to welcome their clan leader.

“Sit, eat.” Lord Khupiees tells and soon everyone went back to eating their mid day meal.

“Was their anything in particular that you wanted to do today?” Sya asks as he and the others lead Nala to a large table that would easily fit all of them.

“Not really. I am excited about Kaine getting my cloths ready. I feel more then strange because of my cloths.” Nala laughs. Once they reached the table, Lord Khupiee ushers her to sit with him and Sya beside her. “As strange as an Ooman can be on a Yautja DropShip.” They all have a short chuckle.

“No doubt my younger brother will be purposely late.” Lord Khupiee says, scolding Pakka.

“OH!” Nala jolts and turns to Lord Khupiee. “Thank you for your words last night.” She says sincerely.

“Last night?” Bakkub asks.

“The little one was meant to come to me as a part of her lessons but she came so late that she had to sit in as me and Elder Heret had a conversation.” Lord Khupiee answers.

“He did not see her did he?” Sya hisses in surprise.

“He certainly did not!” Lord Khupiee barks at the accusation.

“What’s with the anger?” Nala whispers, looking up to the two Yautja over a head taller then her.

“The Elders are not allowed to see a new clan member until their judgment.” Bakkub tells her. “It has been that way since the beginning. When someone is inducted into a new clan, whether it be from an old one for from none at all, they must be judged and when they are fully taken in, renamed as such for what they are known for.”

“Oh…” Nala revels in knowing why she must be renamed.

“She was not meant to know.” Sya says. “It was meant to be a surprise.” He sighs.

“Do you have any ideas as to what you are going to name her?” M’Ho asks after they welcome the other Arbitrators, excluding Pakka.

“I do and no.” Lord Khupiee twists his head to Nala just as she opens her mouth to know what it is. “You are not permitted to know the name until you are shown to the clan as a whole.”

“Great.” Nala says sarcastically. She was finding that she was the last to know everything more and more. And she didn’t like that they were keeping things from her. It’s not like she wants to know everything but she should at least know what matters and being renamed matters.

Once the ordering was done, which was going to also be a ‘surprise’, Nala and the others filled their time with talk of how her studies had come along. After she informed them that she can read their language almost fluently, also explaining to Lord Khupiee why she was late in reading his name, Nala was told something else that made her kind of…anxious. There is an old tradition that had been with the Yautja since their time began. ‘The Story of Creation’ is the tale of how the Yautja came to be. But what got Nala kind of mad, after she became eager about reading it, was that she cannot read it until they reach the Homeworld. The book that holds the story cannot leave their world and so she cannot read it yet. And she must only read it from that book. The names, pictures, ideas, anything that has to do with that book is not even allowed to be heard by Nala. She will be treated as a pup that does not know the story. The table thought it absolutely comical when Sya informed them her age, despite that she was a Young Blood, was only nine and a half seasons. Because as law says, when a Yautja turns ten seasons, they must read the book and so Nala is not going to be late.

“When are the Elders due?” Inkle asks.

“Not until the end of next cycle.” Lord Khupiee answers. “So we have plenty of time for hunts.”

“What will Nalas second trophy species be?” Rathe questions.

“What am I going to be hunting?” Nala perks at the idea. She was becoming restless in this DropShip. Not even living with Yautja was as exciting as it seemed. All work and no play is just WRONG!

“The beasts are called ‘Tomooc’. They are about this long,” Lord Khupiee spreads his arms to about a meter and a half wide. “About this tall,” He rests his hand about three feet above the ground. “And have a long head with a mouth full of jagged teeth. They love bogs and swamps. They swim faster then any fish. They have a long tail that can whip you before you know it has even moved. They can run very fast. But I am sure you can run faster then them.” He laughs.

“I don’t need to run faster then the beast.” Nala says straight faced. “I just need to run faster then you!” The entire table begins to laugh hysterically at her statement and it was then that Pakka strolls up late, albeit hungrier then he can ever imagine.

“I do hope you have gotten enough to eat. I am positively ravenous.” Pakka says and sits down.

“And late.” Lord Khupiee laughs, still reeling from Nala comment. But Pakka simply grunts at the truth and goes silent at sharing a table with an Ooman.

“Don’t pester him.” Nala says to Pakka shock. “Even I can see how hard it is for him to share a table with me. Give him time. We cannot force him to be kind and I hope you don’t expect him to act as you wish because not everyone will be so kind instantly.” The table was stunned at Nalas harsh tone, but they agreed with her nonetheless. “You cannot expect the entire population to be won over by me as fast as I did all of you.” Just as fast as the tone went serious it went back to fun as they all laugh. It was then that an uncountable amount of food was placed on the table. Some she recognized and Nala made a note to thank Lord Khupiee for not ordering Ooman balls. But there was one ‘food’ that made Nalas face twist in question.

“What is it?” M’Ho asks about her odd face.

“Umm…That.” Nala points and their gazes follow her hand to the large bowl and a very thick, lumpy, purple paste that was in it. “Just because you made it my favorite color does not mean I am going to eat it.” She says sternly.

“If you don’t like it, after you taste it, you don’t have to eat it.” Sya says, holding in a chuckle.

Once all the food was almost evenly given, Rathe decided he wanted more of a food called ‘akin’ that to Nala looked like deep fried calamari. And once she told them that calamari was a squid, she found out that she would rather want calamari then akin. Nala stuck mostly to khan because it tasted like chicken, kind of. But Sya also gave her a small dish that had that nasty purple lumpy c’jit in it. It smelt rank, and everyone laughed when Nala just had to cover her nose in disgust.

“Just try it. You made me taste that peppermint stuff.” Sya pressed.

“I did not!” Nala bursts. “You had to convince me to give you a taste and so it was your choice. Do not tell me to taste that because you WANTED to taste my tooth paste. I do not want to taste that c’jit!”

“Is Nala to afraid to taste it?” Miy’Hota jokes. “Perhaps we should get something else for her?”

“If you think that will make me eat it, you have another thing coming!” Nala points to him with a smile. Suddenly, Sya sighs loudly and grabs the small dish and simply downs the sloppy mixture. But when his face distorted just as much as from the toothpaste, Nala points out that even he doesn’t like it.

“Of course I don’t like it. It is meant to cleanse your pallet for when you begin to eat.” Sya explains.

“My pallet is thoroughly cleansed that you very much.” Nala sticks out her tongue at the remaining smell.

About mid meal everyone, including Pakka, was well into conversation and food. Inkle joked about the ‘five pointy knives’ Nala had mentioned before because there were indeed a number of sharp utensils around. But their meal was interrupted when Thr'ik came to say hello and then hissed at Nala without reason. But he soon explained that her ‘peppermint c’jit’ was horrid. The only ones to laugh her Nala and Sya, the others had no clue. So Nala promised to allow them to try it, if they wished. But Dh’Kn, who Nala was surprised to know was Syas little brother, said that if she tasted the purple stuff then he would taste hers but she avidly declined so Dh’Kn would be safe from it. As Thr’ik left, Nala followed him to a table and she smiles at Dhm'Ni before she saw Nder, who was about to get up when Dhm’Ni takes his hand. Nder hissed at Dhm'Ni visibly but calmed after Dhm'Ni said something to him that Nala couldn’t hear. Nder just smiles back at her and sits, deciding to offer her his room at a later time. However, when Nala turned back to the table, her eyes connected with Lidch as he was standing directly across from her and behind M’Ho. Standing with Lidch however was a Young Blood that looked almost the same and Lidch, so Nala presumed they were related somehow.

“S'yuit-de.” Lidch hisses loud enough that the table quickly falls silent. Nala did know what it meant. Dhm'Ni had been telling her Yautja swears after her lessons but she didn’t care about being called pathetic or ‘low’. Sya was about to get up but Nala gently places her hand on his and he calms down.

“Something I can do for you, Lidch?” Nala says pleasantly.

“Pauk-de Ooman.” The male standing by Lidch hisses.

“Watch your tongue Jabot.” Lord Khupiee hisses back.

“That female, that OOMAN, insulted my brother.” Jabot roars, all at the table were a little more then angry at being interrupted and ever more so as this Young Blood went on. But Nala didn’t care. He can say all he wishes but he will know if he crossed a line. “You little Lou-dte Kalei! You fight my brother without honor! You embarrass him beyond comprehension and here you are, an Ooman in my clan, who deliberately humiliated my brother. But you are not without shame, Ooman.” He hisses. But still Nala just blankly looks up at him. “Do you know what I find fun? I look over the footage of you and re-watch you getting hit with that Hard Meat tail over and over and over again. We should have left you there to die as the dishonorable being you are.” Yet he still got nothing from her. “I also watch how your mate died.” Nala stiffens at his words, he was sitting dangerously at that line. “I love to watch as that Hard Meat impaled him, taking him from your life. But why would such a lowly, disgusting male ever want you, who is even lower then he.”

“You are getting very close to saying to much and I advise you to stop now and leave.” Nala warns him but Jabot laughs at her hoarsely.

“I for one think he should have died before he met you, to save him the grief of ever knowing you.” He laughs as Nala was clearly beginning to get aggravated. Her breathing was deep, her mouth was puckered and her nose was flared. Nevertheless she was trying with everything she had to keep her anger down, but she was failing. “That poor dead mate of yours, perhaps it is best he is dead. Just so he does not have to deal with you any longer.” Nala closes her eyes and lowers her head. She had to stay calm but it was so hard. No one will disrespect Allen, no one! With one final laugh, both Lidch and Jabot leave the table silent, Nalas angered breathes easily heard.

“Nala…” Sya says softly and places a hand at her back to feel every muscle in her tense erratically. Nala slowly raises her head and Syas eyes go wide as he sees that her pupils had enlarged just as they did when she was fighting the Queen. Without warning, Nala jumps up from her chair and up onto the table, grabbing a few of those nice sharp knives on her way. “CATCH HER!” Sya roars, he just knew this wasn’t going to end good. But as Nala runs over the food and jumps over M’Ho, none of them could get a good swipe and missed her as she lands on the next table only to run over that as well. She didn’t care if this was bad-mannered, all she wanted to do was kill this Jabot. No one disrespects Allen like that, and he’s going to regret it!

Nala runs across the large table, those sitting there didn’t know whether to get angry or laugh because they heard what was said and knew what she was doing. But just as fast as she was on the table she was off and into the next. Lidch and Jabot were standing by the lift doors and they were not going to get away! As Nala jumps onto the last table, she growls a sound that she never thought she could ever hold. Almost sounding like a Yautja but not just there. But the noise got their attention and both brothers turn just in time to see Nala leap off the last table. Her body and Jabots collide and they both go tumbling to the ground. Jabot pushes her off of him but Nala gains her footing and stands just as he does. Before he could even think, Nala charges at him and stabs one of the knives into his gut, his green blood flowing out of his wound and onto Nalas arm. Acting fast, Jabot back hands her and she flies backwards, leaving her knife in his belly but Jabot was swift in tearing it out. But in the time it took him to do that, Nala was on him again and uses her last knife to stab him in the right thigh. Jabot howls in pain and he looks to his brother who was frozen stiff. Even those around him didn’t help him as Nala takes back her knife to tab him again in the gut. Jabot bends down in the pain and receives a swift kick to his head and all of the sudden, he was on his back on the ground. In an instant, Nala was on him, straddling his chest. Nala lifts if her knife over her head, with both hands around it and thrusts it down, piercing Jabot right in his heart. But she doesn’t stop. Again she lifts the knife over her head to hit him once more but Nala was ripped from her spot when a body tackles her from the side, sending her away from her kill and onto the ground.

“Get off me!” Nala yells, swiping the knife at who ever it was. She couldn’t see straight, she didn’t care at the time as to who it was. She just wanted to kill Jabot.

“STOP NALANI!” Lord Khupiee roars but she doesn’t calm down. The moment Nala was off the table everyone started for her but she was using the tables to get around but once they were close enough, Lord Khupiee lunged at her to stop her. But even as he was on top of her, almost his entire weight on her, she was still thrashing around in rage. Lord Khupiee grabs both hands of hers in one of his and holds them above her head but she was still relentless. Going into desperate measures, Lord Khupiee uses his free hand and starts to put pressure on her throat, just long enough to stop her air supply to her brain to make her pass out. Within seconds, Nalas movements become slower, her eyes droop and her mouth starts to open in an attempt to get air. It was only when she fell still and Lord Khupiee hears her heart calm does he let her breath but he didn’t not let go of his hold.

“Someone go get Kh’Cho!” Sya roars as he runs to Jabots side. While he was furious with what he did, that was no excuse for not helping him. He kneels by the bleeding and dying Yautja to see his eyes filled with fear. “You dishonored the memory of her mate Jabot. If you do not die now, you will by my hand.” He hisses so that only Jabot heard. And almost on queue, Jabots body falls still and his eyes glass over by death. Almost as if dieing then and there was better then by Syas hand. “Your brother died because of his words Lidch, do not be so stupid.” Sya says as he stands tall. Without a sound Lidch nods in understanding and walks away from his brothers’ body. Leaving the corpse to be disposed of as the dishonorable being Jabot was for his words.

“What the pauk happened?” Dhm'Ni runs to the scene to find Nala on the ground and his father on top of her. But soon, Lord Khupiee stands with Nala in arm.

“Jabot dishonored her mate and died because of it.” Lord Khupiee says matter-of-factly. “She was well within her rights as a female to defend the honor of passed mate.” He says solemnly. “But I think we sound take her back to the observation room before she wakes, she will undoubtedly be furious when she wakes.” All standing nods him in silence, it would be best. Wordlessly, Lord Khupiee, Sya, Dhm'Ni and a few of the Arbitrators go into the lift with the others saying they would be on the next one.

“Sometimes I wonder if this little female is not a Yautja.” Lord Khupiee says with a small hit of amusement.

“As do I.” Rathe thrills. “Jabot got what was coming to him. I am only worried of how Nala will take her deed.”

“I will need to speak with her as soon as she wakes.” Sya says.

“No.” Lord Khupiee barks angrily. “She will not speak to anyone until she has completely calmed. She was fighting me as I took her from Jabot. She may not care if it is you Sya and I fear she may do something rash.”

Once Lord Khupiee placed Nala in the same room as before, he quickly leaves the room making sure to lock it. As he goes into the room to watch her, Lord Khupiee was met with the remaining Arbitrators who were conversing about how those in the galley thought what Nala had done was too little in the way of punishing Jabot for his words.

“She wakes.” Pakka points out and they all look to find Nala already up on her feet. She twists around to glare into the mirror and then suddenly punches it with all she had. But when she did, Nala sees all the green glowing blood on her and she starts to shake. What had she done? She just killed that male.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.” She repeats over an over as she walks away from the wall. “What did I do?” She cries.

“I am going in.” Sya roars and turns to go but was caught by Lord Khupiees hand.

“I said you cannot.” He insists.

“Are you going to stop me?” Sya hisses and looks deathly into his friends’ eyes. Lord Khupiee growls in irritation but lets him go and without another word, Sya was out of the room.

“What did I do?” Nala says again and she back up to the far wall. She slides down looking at her hands, not being able to understand why she hurt that male. He may have said some bad things but she stabbed him. Was he dead? Was he still alive? What was going to happen in if was dead or alive? Was she in trouble? Why was she in this room again? Who was it that tackled her? Did she hurt that person as well? Tears were free flowing down her face and her mouth was open in a silent plea for help. But her soundless words were heard as the door to the room suddenly opens as Sya runs in. He goes in a little but does not see her at first and so he turns around to see Nala on the ground.

“Oh little one…” He says softly and knees down on the ground. Sya opens arms, inviting her to him and Nala jumps up from her stop and into him.

“What did I do Sya?” She cries into him neck. Sya gently yet tightly wraps his arms around her and moves so he was leaning against a wall. “How could I have done that?” She cries.

“Jabot is dead.” Sya purrs to her, but the news insights a new round of sobs. “But you must know that you have the right to defend the honor of your mate. And Jabot deserved to die for his disrespect of him and of you.”

“But not like that!” She yells into him. Sya starts to rub her back with a hand, gently rubbing her to calm her down.

“You may not understand now but what you did was right.” He tells her. “A Yautja female would have acted the same way and I am both surprised and proud of how you handled it as long as you did. I myself would have killed him after his first rude sentence.”

“I killed a Yautja…” She whispers.

“Is it that that makes you feel as you do?” Nala nods a ‘yes’ into his neck. “Oh Nala, you must see that in the future you will have to defend yourself in combat with other Yautja that must end in their or your death. I would hope you to come out victorious but if you have a problem with take a life of a Yautja, then I think we have a problem.”

“It’s not just that Sya.” Nala lists her head to look Sya in the eyes. “I didn’t want to kill him but I know I had to. And I know that I will have to in the future but I didn’t think it would happen so fast.” She pauses to wipe the tears from her face. “I miss him…” She starts to weep again and rests her forehead on Syas chin. “I miss Allen.”

“Mourn for him Nala.” That was the last thing he said to her and he allows her to cry. He knew she wasn’t weeping just for her deed but for the loss of her mate. She needed this and Sya was going to be there for her the entire time. Right then and there Sya knew that he was her father. Maybe not by blood but in soul.

Authors Note: Yes! Another update!

A special thanks to:

On ff .net: ben revell, swift hunter, Alix, kami_no_yami and Oak Tree Woman.

To kami_no_yami whose review said ‘For a minute or two, I thought you might have abandoned it... But I understand getting caught up in a novel. What were you reading might I ask?’: I promise to never abandon this story. If anything it can go on and on until forever but the ending I have planned I hope you will like. And as to the book I was reading, it was a novel done by a new friend of mine and it is about an Italian Mafia Family. It has death and murder and love! It was amazing. I am now thinking of writing a crime family story but haven’t thought about it 100 percent.

On aff .net: Cara (I love the rain. That’s why I am going then and to see an old friend), aquamum, angelpred and adam.

To Cara whose review said ‘God everyone says the Yautja are well hung but like how many inches?’: There is a lot of speculation because of the large body size of the Yautja. Who knows, they may not even have one. (If not, that would break a lot of woman’s hearts) But for now we will pleasantly assume they do and with the ‘information’ we have on them, for example that their females are larger and rougher and therefore the males would need to have ‘good equipment’. And that their size in relation to humans is larger, I would think their manhood’s are proportionate. I hope. Email me if you want to talk about this or anything else. I love a good discussion.

E.M.

Pronunciations (Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6, 9 to 13, 15 to 17 and 21.)
Tomooc Tom uok
Akin Ahk In
Jabot Jab Oot