Rivers Run Deep

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters related to Predator El, other unrelated human characters, and the character names of the predators Imade up, the concept of predator do not belong to me.



Authors Notes: This is a work of Fan fiction. please read on and enjoy.



WARNING: The following work of fiction contains, extream violence, course language (at times), sexual sudgestions, nudety, and explicit sex. If you are
under 18 (or whatever age is appropriate for your location), HIT YOUR
BACK BROWSER BUTTON NOW. If you find explicit sex offensive, please
don't offend yourself by reading further.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone5

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Rivers Run Deep




Chapter 23



She slowly turned in the bed, feeling better than she’d felt in several days. Her leg wasn’t throbbing any more, in fact, she could even bend it without severe pain shooting up through the muscle. She opened her eyes to find she was surrounded by masked aliens, all with the same kind of long dreadlock like hair as Tusk had. She tried to rise, only one put his hand to her chest, a soft purr emanating from behind the mask. “Tusk?” she asked, and he nodded. “Wow, you got a new mask. It looks good.” She put her hand over his, and gently squeezed. He nodded to her. He would need to be careful now. Their communication had often been contingent on their facial expressions, now that she could no longer see his face, he would need to find a better way to communicate, should his present not work as quickly as he hoped.


He put up his hand, and reached into his pouch, pulling out a small ringed device and handed it to her. “What’s this?” she looked it over. It looked a bit like a large earring, and when Tusk pointed to her ear, she knew she was right. “Thank you.” He helped her clip it on, and stood back. “You didn’t have to you know,” she said. “The doctor is going to cost you, I know. And I promise I’ll do what I can to pay you back.”


Ver’On shook his head. He understood bits and pieces, mainly ‘Doctor, Cost, and Promise’. Somehow she thought she’d felt she was a burden, that she cost him currency or trade goods. He shook his head, the healers here were free. They competed for the right to work on the station, and were paid by the station proceeds. The weren’t about to mess up a good thing by charging their patients. “NO cost,” he said to her, and her head snapped around to him.


She understood him. “Oh my god!” she laughed, and turned to him more, waving for him to keep speaking.


“No cost,” he repeated, then waived a greeting hand to the other hunters at the foot of her bed. “Hunters, wish to meet, fine ooman warrior.”


“Fish?” she asked, not really sure why she didn’t hear the words correctly. “I heard, Rocks want to meet fish.” She took the ear piece off, looked it over as the tiny lights flashed in earnest, then put it back on. “It’s not working right,” she said, pointing to the ear piece.


Ver’On sighed. “The device is not properly programmed, she did not understand my words.” The hunters nodded. “But as agreed, Sr’lon, this is the female in the recording I showed you earlier. I will now show you the rest. The complete battle, that began at her training session, to the battle that ended with me. Are you ready?”


“YES!” he roared with excitement, patting his son’s shoulder. El, jumped two feet further up the bed form the roaring creature. “This is fantastic. I saw a near deathblow she sent to him. You must see this female fight.” Ver’On walked to the middle of the open floor, and adjusted the unit, then placed it on the floor, stepping back as the image began to replay.


He’d recorded the battle between the female and the four males she’d trained with, he wanted to study it, should she survive her battle with them, and be taken to recover from her wounds. But when he decided to fight her right away, he kept the ship’s sensors trained on her, when he landed near the bluff.


The laser images began to play, and El eased herself to her side to watch what he was doing. She was surprised when the image it displayed was her, then mortified as she watched herself fight Mr. Com’s best students. She was shocked at what she did to Kevin, Allen, and Daniel, Praying Daniel didn’t have a crushed ribcage. But she was horrified at what she did to Tommy though, the way she just kept beating his head, till he dropped to the floor motionless.


The scene shifted as she saw herself standing face to face with the alien that she now traveled with, and found her breath leave her body when she saw herself strike his mask, cutting it in half. The image ended with the two of them, embracing, the outcome of the fight quite obvious. He took her with him.


Ver’On took the quiet device off the floor, and looked back to his female with pride. She had the oddest look on her face, one he couldn’t place. “Her wounds from the first four she fought were untreated when she battled me. And still her strength was a match for my own.”


“That…” Sr’lon stated, breathless, “that…was…AMAZING!!!” He grabbed the girl’s foot and shook it, mainly if he had grabbed her and began to spin her around as he wanted to, she probably would had throttled him too. “I have never had prey like that. And to let her live! To find her heart had been seeking one like yours! That is special. Excuse me, I must go mate.”


Kal shook his head as his father left. It was what he always did when he was excited. He would go off, find his mate, and make sure she would not be able to walk for several days by the time he was threw. He turned then to Ver’On, as he caressed the female’s cheek. “Have you mated with her yet?”


Ver’On shot him a look, growling beneath his mask in warning. “That is none of your concern!”


“It will be, if I choose to challenge you for her.” The large male took a step to the side, balling his fists.


“She will not permit you,” Ver’On stated, turning to her, and seeing her look of anger as the male tried to make his move. Ver’On blocked his blow, and gave a quick powerful jab to the master’s ribs.


El scrambled out of the bed to the other side, only to realize that if she had not moved, she would have felt no pain, but when she tried to step onto her left leg, she screamed and fell to the floor.


“Ver’On pushed the master to the other side of the room, and went to find out why the female was screaming. The healer and his assistant entered, quickly moving to help her back to the bed, when Kal lunged at Ver’On again.


“NO FIGHTING HERE!!!” Rysix shouted, as the two males collided near the foot of the bed. “YOU WISH TO FIGHT, GO THE LOWER SPARING ROOMS! I WILL NOT BE PIECING YOU BACK TOGETHER!!!”


Ver’On pushed the master away. “The lizard is right! We will be ejected from the station if we fight here. You wish to challenge me, you better be ready to fight her too. She won’t let anyone else but me touch her! She’ll kill you before she’ll let you.”


“If that is what it takes, fine. Her skull should be on your wall anyway.”


“You won’t touch her. If anyone loses their head, it will be you!”


Kal wiped the end of his chin, just below the rim of his mask. There was a small trickle of blood there, not much, just a scratch. He then growled at Ver’On, and left, eyeing the female as the healers placed her back on the bed.






El remained in the care of the healers for another three days. He would be there, watching. The healers were trying to help her get strength back into her leg, having her exercise over different kinds of equipment, and to balance herself between two bars to barely walk 10 paces. All the while she was talking to the staff, and the translator was learning more and more of her dialect. With the direct interaction of the languages around her, the translator had no problem matching her words with those it already had programmed, and matching those translations with the Yautja language already translated for the other languages. There were still a few minor glitches, but nothing that she could not work around, or understand.


Today was one of those days where Ver’On would wtch her walking between the parallel bars, today he would take her out of her. Her breathing device was finished, and he held it in his hand, as he waited for the healer to finish her thearapy.


“I’m amazed at the amount of upper body strength she has,” Rysix stated at one point. She understood him, and pulled her self off the floor to swing between the bars. “NOW STOP THAT!” he huffed, and made her lower to the floor carefully. Ver’On laughed, and El looked at him, not recognizing the sound he’d made. “Ver’On thinks your funny,” Rysix explained.


“Ver’On?” she asked, hearing his name for the first time.


“Yes, that’s his name. Though you’ve been using something else.”


“Tusk,” she stated. “Easy to remember.” Was what the translator sent back.


“Ver’On is hard to remember?” She waved for him to forget what she said, and swung under the bar, and slowly balanced herself freely as she walked towards Ver’On. The little ear device had learned quite a lot over the last few days, however, it couldn’t discern the more colorful words she’d used on occasion, when she’d fall. She threw her arms over Ver’On’s outstretched limbs, smiling as he supported her.


“You are getting stronger,” he said. She nodded. “And you understand more of my words.” Again she nodded. He leaned over and nuzzled his chin into the crook of her neck and shoulder. She giggled pleasantly, at the gentle chills his cool mask sent up and down her spine, and the feel of his hands on her back as he held her closer. “I wish to speak with you,” he whispered, and made her stand back.


“About what?” she asked, and he trilled that he understood her words.


“I must leave for a time.” Her expression lost all joy, and he felt her muscles tighten. “I will return. I will not leave you.”


“Why go?”


“I must.”


“Before you continue,” interrupted Rysix, “Please have her walk around, and make sure she puts sufficient weight on her left leg. She has a tendency to limp. She’ll not get stronger that way.”


“Can she leave here?” Ver’On asked.


“Yes. Just get her some clothes.”


“I have the perfect idea. We will walk, to the commerce area, and we will get you some new clothes.” He pointed to her duffle bag, that he’d dropped on the floor by the door. “We will trade your old clothes for more suitable ones.”


“Not all of them!” she exclaimed.


“If you wish to keep those ones that cling to you, and show your curves, THEY GO. I will not have the other Yautja trying to come after you.”


“Don’t you like them?” she asked, pulling her arm around his midsection, as he picked up the duffle bag.


“I do, but not for others to see.”


“Then let me keep one set,” she held up one finger, pointing to the bag, just in case he misunderstood. “and I promise, I will only wear them when you and I are alone.” Ver’On looked at the duffle bag then back to her, and nodded.


“One more thing,” he said, handing her the breathing device. “Put this in your nose. You will be able to breath anywhere on the station then, as well as on my ships in our natural air.”


“COOL!” though when she looked at the little device, the prospect of sticking the thing up her nose wasn’t that great an idea. “Is this what you needed that box thing for?” Ver’On nodded and waved for her to put it in. the texture was soft, and the thin band that held the two prongs together was tanslucent. When she’d fully incerted the thing in her nose, she never even knew it was there. She could hardly feel it, and the band jus disappeared on her skin. She turned back to Ver’On and smiled. He nodded his approval and lead her out the door, keeping her balanced as they headed down the hall. The first thing he’d do, is get her a better dress.






The dress he’d picked out for her was very simple. It was tan, a medium tone, her dark redish brown hair set off beautifully by the color. The dress reached all the way to the floor, even brushed her toes, which she liked. Ver’On suggested the tailor shorten it, and received a chastised screech from the female. The tailor laughed a bit at the hunter’s sudden turn to her, as she pleaded with her eyes not to touch the length. Reluctantly he agreed. They traded a few of her pants, and shirts, and the dress she’d worn when she was taken to the infirmary, along with the night dress she had while she was there. Ver’On also insisted on the tailor taking the female’s sleeping clothes, though he made it look to her that he was trying to keep them. El was confused as the tailor walked away with her pajamas, but was pleased that her long shirt, her practice gym suit, and her underwear were left. At least she’d still have the long shirt to sleep in.


Next Ver’On took her to a place where footwear was made, and the proprietor there offered to give her two pairs of shoes, as long as he could take plaster molds of her feet in different positions, so he could display the female footwear. She agreed, and picked out a pair of casual shoes, and a pair that looked a bit more rugged. There were four positions that the proprietor molded, seemed fair enough. Once the shoes were finished, designed for her shape of feet, she tucked the rugged ones in her bag, and wore the others. “Can we walk around?” she asked the huge male. He nodded, insisting that she stay close to him.


They made their way around the different booths in the commerce area, noting the different services and goods offered to trade. There were things that looked like toys for children, though she wasn’t totally sure what alien children would play with. There were other clothing sellers, traders, and smiths of all kinds, all with elaborate designed goods.


It was a jeweler that drew her attention, noting the same kind of ear pieces that she wore. “They are new,” the seller stated. “Personalized translators. Can be worn as jewelry. I see you’re wearing one.”


“Yes, I have one,” she said as most of what the man had said didn’t come across.


Then the seller noted the Yautja with her. “I remember you, and you,” he pointed to the girl, “must be his ooman.”


“Human,” she said, “I’m El.” and she extended her hand to shake his. The alien stood back, and Ver’On stepped in.


“You don’t want to do that,” he said quietly. “Among his species, to extend one’s hand to make contact, is to initiate negotiations to mate.”


“Mate what?” she said, and Ver’On looked at her. “A game?” she asked, Ver’On shook his head. Then her eyes went wide. ‘Mate’ wasn’t what she’d heard, she only repeated the same sounding word as she’d heard it. “You mean…sex?” she whispered, and Ver’On nodded gently. “Oh. I’m so sorry.”


Ver’On turned to the mortified male tradesman. “She meant no disrespect, she did not understand.”


The male gave a relived sigh. “That’s good. Has she been wearing the device long?”


“A few days. Talking non stop, according to the healers.”


“Good. Come, I’ll make a copy of the information. It will help me in matching the dialect.”


Ver’On looked at the girl. “He needs to examine your unit,” and he pointed to her ear. “He will not take it.” She nodded and followed the seller to a machine.


The copy took only a few seconds, and the pair were off again. Ver’On could hear the strange sounds the female’s stomach was making, she was hungry, and so was he. He directed her to an area of tables, and had her sit. He placed his hand over the center of the table and pressed a button. A moment later a barrio went up, and the area flooded with his natural atmosphere.


Using the computer on the table, he ordered something light for her, not too spicy as much of the food here was, which was how he liked it. An insect like server, with six limbs brought their food, and Ver’On offered a chit of mineral to him, common to the dietary needs of the insect’s species. The bug chirped in thanks, and left their table.


“I didn’t understand her,” El said quietly, poking at the food in front of her. It was green and lumpy, and smelled burnt. “What is this?”


“The insect was a male, and this is good for you. It will give you strength for your leg.”


“You’re not eating it,” she noticed as his plate was full of chunks of meat, most of it not totally cooked. “Do you always eat raw meat?”


“For one, I do not like that particular food, but I would eat it if I were injured. As for my diet, yes. My kind does eat raw meat, for energy. Especially when we are to leave on a hunt.”


“Is that where you’re going?” she asked, scooping up some of the green lumps.


“Yes. I have made a request of one of the merchants here, to watch over you while I am gone.”


“Why can’t I go with you?”


“Too dangerous.”


“Then why do you have to go?” For a moment he didn’t like her pouting tone. It was the same that Uni would give him every time he would leave on a hunt. Though before he would go he would mate her long and hard, so that she was completely satisfied, and exhausted, before he left.


He put his utensils down. “When one of my kind receives, or makes, or trades for a new mask, they must go on a special hunt in order to adorn the brow of it with the mark of their clan. My physical brow is marked, as was my old mask, but my new one is not. I must go on this hunt, to complete that task. It is part of our ways. Do you understand?”


She nodded. “Most of it. But I get the idea.”


“It will take time for your translator to function fully, but that time will be well worth spending.”


“Ver’On?” he looked at her, as her words formed his name. “Are you mad at me?”


“No.”


“You’re not…upset with me…over what I did to you?”


“You mean our battle?” She nodded. “Why should I be angry about that? You fought well, better than most females of my own kind, with some basic training to protect them selves.”


“I could have killed you,” she said, reaching her hand over to touch his upper right mandible, where she’d nearly cut through his skin.


“But you didn’t. I believe you have far more right to be angry with me.”


“Why?”


He almost told her of what happened, with her family, and his part in the burning of her home. But he caught himself. If he told her that, she would surly leave him, and leaving her here on the station, tough she would be safe from getting killed, she could be exploited, and he would not allow that to happen. “I challenged you, I nearly killed you, and had you not damaged my shoulder cannon, I would have wounded your guardian for interfering with our battle. I am pleased that I did not kill you, and even more so pleased that your guardian remained unharmed. Had he not, he would have not given me permission to take you away.” She nodded, taking a bite of her food. “Tell me, what did that irate male want at your door, the day we left.” El began to choke, grabbing her napkin and spitting out her food, before reaching for her beverage to douse the fire in her mouth. Ver’On patted her back, as her eyes turned red from her strains, as tears ran down her cheeks. Part of him wanted to laugh, it was funny, but still, he’d no idea how spicy bland really was.


“I’m ok, I’m ok,” she stammered, coughing a few more times before settling at last. “God, that’s worse than suicide!”


“What?” he asked, not understanding the last word she spoke.


“There’s a spice that my people use on their food, to make it hot like this. The most extreme is called suicide sauce. Meaning to kill one’s self.”


“Why would they want to do that?”


“Because not all humans are very bright,” she laughed, and took a small piece of meat from his plate. “May I?”


“If you can handle Rala, of course. I’d hate for you to starve.”


“What is Rala, and why would I dance with it?”


“What?”


“Just kidding…I won’t starve.” She cut a piece of the meat off, and began to chew. She got the oddest look on her face.


“What? You don’t like the taste?”


She shook her head. “The taste is fine,” she said. “But I think your boots would be easier to chew.”


“My foot plates would not be as tasty.”


“You miss the point. I feel like I’m chewing a rock.”


“Then spit it out.”


“No! It tastes good. I’ll just suffer.” It seemed like forever that she was there chewing the one little morsel. He couldn’t see what the problem was, the meat was fine. It wasn’t tough. Then he remembered, she didn’t have the strong inner mouth muscles like he did. “Ver’On?”


“Yes?”


“Did you mind it at all, that I called you Tusk?”


“No. Did you mind it at all that I called you female?”


“Well no, it is what I am after all.”


“Then don’t worry about it.”


“Can I ask you something, really – really personal?”


Ver’On looked around. “You sure you wish to talk here?”


“Sometimes when you want to have a private conversation, have it in a crowded area.”


“Why?”


She opened her mouth to respond, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember the rest of the old adage she’d heard. “I don’t know!” she laughed. “My mo – ” she was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath to continue. “My mother use to say that. But I don’t remember why?”


“Alright, ask me.”


“Well, I’m not sure how your people view this kind of thing, but – ”


The server came up. “Is everything to your liking?”


“What?” she asked, but Ver’On was the one to continue.


“No. The spice is too hot for her. Do you have something else?”


“Not really.”


“Can we have some other pieces of meat then? Perhaps the tender ones.”


“Of course.” And the insect was off.


“How my species views what?”


“Hu? Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I was just wondering, why, you…when we were last on the ship…after you pulled me out of the bathroom…why did you…don’t get me wrong I liked it, but…”


“Would you ask me your question…you are chattering on like a Bendling mating with itself.”


“That is grose!”


“ASK!”


“WHY DID YOU TOUCH ME!?” She suddenly felt like half the commerce area was staring at her, and she just buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I just said that.”


“Would you prefer I not?” he asked.


“No! I mean, yes…I mean…oh god…I don’t know. Just shoot me please.”


“I’m not going to kill you, no matter how much you beg.”


“It’s an expression.”


“Then choose something else. There are too many of my kind that will do just as you asked. Without a second thought. So choose your words carefully from now on.”


“Ok.”


“As for why I touched you. I have been going around this place, saying you are my mate. If we happened to be out, and I touch you, and you jump, people will wonder. This station is neutral ground. No hunting. But if the security force believed you to be a prisoner of mine, and not aware of this place, they would remove you from my custody. Just as Kal challenged me to take you from me.”


“That guy you hit the other day?”


“Yes. The other one was Sr’lon, his sire. Sr’lon wanted to meet you, and see the entire battle of you and me, and what lead up to it. A trade for the new mask he made for me. He was so excited, his mate is still unable to walk normally.”


“She let him do that?”


“Of course. Females like it rough from their mates. It reinstills the knowledge of the emotion and passion their mates have for them.”


“What ever happened to saying ‘I love you’ and kissing?”


“What did you say? I don’t think there is a translated phrase for that yet.”


“Never mind. But I understand now why you did that. Sorry for acting the way I did.”


“It is quite alright. May I ask you something?”


“Sure.”


“Why do you wear clothes to bed?”


“Well, for one, they keep me warm. They absorb the sweat from me, if I happen to sweat at night. And I didn’t think you’d want to see some pasty white alien naked in bed,” she laughed.


“Why not? Who do you think removed those ridiculous clothes you were wearing that night?”


Her eyes went wide, and she nearly swallowed her small meal, before chewing it. “YOU WHAT!” she squeaked.


“I was not about to allow your guardian to do that, nor the old man, he probably would have died.”


“I’m not that bad looking!”


“Certainly not, for an ooman, but I think if he looked at you, his heart would have stopped. How old as he anyway. He looked as old as my great-great-great-grandfather.” He took a sip of his beverage.


“He was only 72 years old.” Now it was Ver’On’s turn to choke, trying not to laugh too hard.


“WHAT! He’s a baby! And he looks that old?”


“Why? You something like 90?”


“NO! I’d still be an unblood, still training.”


“How old are you?”


“I’m almost 400 of your years. Why?” She just looked at him. “What?”


“You can’t be serious?”


“I am. Very serious. A Yautja who is not, is a dead Yautja.”


“You’d kill him?”


“No, he’d get himself killed. Our society has no room for fools.”


“No sense of humor?”


“We have that, but not the way that you would think. Our humor is…” he put his cup down as three of the new young bloods made their way to their table, taking off their masks to take in the air around the table.


“Mind if we join you hunter?” one asked. It was one of the sons of the Hunt Master. He and a few of his young blooded kin were gathering in the one area, where they could go without their masks. Anyone could really recreate the same area, but he was sure it wasn’t just a polite request that drew the attention of the younglings.


“You may,” he said, pulling El’s chair closer to him by grabbing the seat of it next to her thy. She quickly pulled her food over, leaving the green lumpy stuff behind.


“You do not like this ooman?” asked one of the boys.


Ver’On spoke up before she could. “Her translator is not fully programmed yet. She does not understand much of what you say.”


“Pitty.” And the young blood began to eat the green stuff. The son of Kal, slapped him on the back of his head.


“YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT HER AGAIN!!” he shouted. “You will apologise to her and trade for fresh food for her” The boy then turned to the hunter and the ooman. “I apologise for him, he will be educated on better manners, I promise.”


Before Ver’On could speak, El did. “The apology is not yours to make. You did nothing wrong. Besides, I wasn’t going to eat it. Had he waited I would have offered it to him.” The younglings turned back and forth to each other and Ver’On.


“You said she did not understand us,” he said to Ver’On, an edge to his voice that she recognized as insinuation.


“No, I said she does not understand much of what you say. I did not say she did not understand you at all.”


“Twisting truth! Worse than lies,” the boy stated.


“If your friend had not been so rude, then I would have finished what I was saying,” and Ver’On stood to his full 7 foot 2 height, but for some reason, El thought he seemed taller than she’d seen him before. “But since he has not been taught the manners befitting a blooded warrior, perhaps a lesson is in order.” Ver’On took his mask from the table, and made his way to the edge of the field. The young male had gotten to his feet, and was looking back and forth between the experienced hunter and the female at the table.


“I…apologize…for my rudeness,” he said. “I will trade for your next meal.”


“You will indeed.” He turned back to El, looking to her if she would accept. She nodded, and Ver’On returned to his seat, as the two young bloods stalked away.


The son of Kal turned back to face the pair. “May I join you?” he asked.


“You may,” Ver’On replied, making sure that when he retook his seat, El’s chair was even closer, as the male sat down.


“My brother will see to it he is dealt with,” he said, sitting down and typing in his order on the screen. “My father says you are looking to return to our hunt world of the Kainde Amedha, may I ask why?”


“To mark my new mask of course. Did your father not tell you? Each time you change your mask, you must mark it with the fresh blood of the Kainde Amedha, and you can only get that on a new hunt. My wall has thirty of such skulls, where the hall of my clan bares the skulls of three queens, spanning the life of my clan.”


“Three Queens! No clan has that!”


“Mine does, should you doubt I will be happy to escort you through the hall on the home world, when we return there.” The server returned with the food, and received another chit of mineral, from both the males. Ver’On then scooped some of the meat onto her plate, making sure he gave her the tenderous pieces. Ver’On couldn’t help but look at the boy’s shocked expression. “What? Had you never heard of males catering to their mates?”


“Not like that,” he scoffed.


“Well she will be most pleasant when we return to our ship.” And he nipped gently all along her neck and shoulder next to him. El leaned her had to his, her eyes closed as the feel of his teeth and tusks ran up and down her skin, with chills up and down her spine. Things were going to get complicated, she could tell.


The boy laughed, and received his meal, and began to eat. Ver’On looked over the female, her scent had changed drastically. It was sweet, and spicy, the aroma of newness, fresh to the senses. A shiver rand down his spine as he remembered a smell like it before, the day he first mated with Uni. He shook his head and returned to his meal, carefully eyeing the young male across from him, leaving El to recover from his bold approach.


It was a long while before anyone said anything. By then the servers had brought fresh food, new drinks, and a desert that El simply loved. She never expected these aliens to have chocolate. Ver’On had ordered it for her, knowing what it was to her, but that it was called something else to the race that brought the food. The translator could not decipher the high screech made by Ver’On as he ordered the delicacy, but took his word that she would like it. And like it she did.


“So, Ver’On,” the boy stated, who’d introduced himself as Sol. “Have you selected your second yet?”


“No. I was thinking your father would like that honor.”


“The Hunt Master is preparing to return to the Colony ship. Something about an urgent message he received from the elders.”


“I see. Perhaps not him then. Who piloted your ship? Perhaps I will ask him, if he is sufficiently accomplished.”


“He is. During his blooding hunt, he killed 41 Kainde Amedha.”


“Really, that is a good hunt.”


“He was the only one to do so.”


“Excellent! I will ask him.”


“I accept.”


“WHAT!?”


“I piloted the ship. I killed 41 on the hunt, and I’ve the skulls to prove it.”


“Now who is twisting truth?”


“I did not. I merely left out that I piloted the ship.”


“Your father will not approve.”


“He can not do otherwise. Either the best of the group goes with you if he cannot, or you are disgraced and left to go alone. Which is suicide.”


“I agree. But I doubt he will permit you to go with me.”


“Why? Is your mate coming?”


“NO! I’ve made arrangements here for someone to watch over her.”


“I don’t need a babysitter!” she said quietly, only to have Ver’On pat her hands and purr at her.


“Why not have her return with my father? He will surly watch out for her.”


“NO! Until ritual she remains with me, or who I designate.”


“Ritual? You mean she’s virgin!?”


“What of it?”


“You made it sound like you would mate her as soon as you retired this evening.”


“I said no such thing!”


“Then what did you mean, when you said that she would be most pleasant when you returned to your ship?”


“Simply that. She would be most pleasant. Her scent is very interesting. I enjoy it when it is in a smaller space.”


“mmmm, I will go inform my Hunt Master that I will going with you as your second. I look forward to this hunt, Ver’On. To hunt with a warrior of your caliber will be glorious. I know I will learn much from you.”


“You will learn what you already have learned.”


“Which is what?”


“You’re your head down, your movements quiet, and kill anything that does not look like you on that planet.” The boy looked to the ooman, then back to Ver’On. “Don’t take one as a pet.” The boy laughed, and left them alone.


As El watched Ver’On pack up what left over, she couldn’t help but wonder when he was going. As though he knew her question, he stated. “I leave today. You will be staying with the Bendling. Whatever you do, do not try to pair him with a female on this station. I know that is what females of any race wish to do. Bendlings are unisexed, they don’t need pairing. If he wishes to be engaged in an evening of passion, he only has to engage himself.”


“That is sick.”


“That is their species. Get used to it. There is much you will need to learn now. Come. He’s waiting.”