The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Argument of Experience

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.

BE SURE TO READ THE AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END FOR THIS CHAPTER IS NOT ALL THAT IS HERE FOR YOU TO READ!

E.M.

The first thing Nala saw was the front of a long loincloth and it made her gasp at the beauty. While the background was an odd mix between white a gray, the same color that had been shown to her for her Awu’asa, what was on top of it is what made her stop. From top to bottom, the whole thing was covered with a large picture of a black Hard Meat that seemed to be climbing her, its elongated head and inner-mouth pointing up, its arms and legs spread like they were scratching her and its tail curled at the end. It was magnificent.

“Ahh ah ah!” Kaines voice takes her from her gaze. “Let start with the basics then up.” He laughs as he walks in front of the small helpers with the handfuls of clothing. “First is the sleepwear and such that we can talk in private about when the crowd has thinned, but I wish to definitely show you your casual wear. Now remember that this is only a taste of what I have made and will make for you.” He motions to one helper who unravels a knee length cloth that had no real pictures or anything on it, but the mixture of her cloud white and the Ehre Clan colors made it gorgeous. The top looked only like a piece of cloth to be draped over her neck, with it hanging down over her breasts and tied to the small belt like thing on her loincloth. Nala knew that when she wore that, she would also be wearing a bra with it. That was just to open for her liking. “This is just a simple piece that you can add what you want to it. You could even use Alsn to cover more if you wish, you told me how your temperature changes drastically sometimes. On to your semi-formal. The bottom is the same length, but on it has more elaborate design with inlayed metals. Your top, however, is different.” With that, another helper steps forwards with a strange shirt. The stomach portion was guarded with a small piece of metal, along with small parts on the side and back. But the rest was actually leather, her breasts would be suitably held as the top was held with two large strips of leather over her shoulders. But what Nala didn’t notice until later, when she got close up, was that there were tiny pictures of Hard Meats on the armor over her belly, sides and back. All no larger then her pinky finger but so beautiful. “You formal is only has a longer loincloth with the Hard Meat on it, I though you would like that, and its top has larger armor. I decided to use the same white gray color through out your wardrobe, just to give it some unity.”

“I’m glad one of us cares about matching.” Nala smiles at him, making them all laugh. Unknown to Nala, Sya had moved behind her, watching the cloths just as intently as her to make sure that if he found any piece to be too revealing, he would have Kaine remake it.

“The other articles I have made for you are all different, with there own uniqueness. But you can look at them al later. Right now, I wish to show you the two pieces that made me so late in delivering you your garments.” With Kaines last words, he ushers the helpers back into his private workshop. “I am bringing out her Awu’asa. Cover her eyes.” Kaine yells.

“NO WAY!” Nala protests, but when Sya clamps a hand over her eyes, she couldn’t really say anything. She just crosses her arms and sighs angrily. The next thing Nala knew, she could hear some grunting and Kaine scolding one of the helpers.

“Place it right in the middle now.” Kaine instructs.

“Why did you have me cover her eyes when her Awu’asa is already covered by a sheet?” Sya laughs, and in an instant Nala rips his hand away from her face, angered that Kaine made him do it. But Nala soon found that it was Sya who was pretending that it was covered. The first thing Nala saw of her Awu’asa was her mask. The same beautiful cloud color was radiating like it was glowing! It had a well defined bridge of the hair line, it even curled a few centimeters back. At first glace it looked like just a normal mask that one would place on, and it covered nothing but their features, but as Nala silently and slowly walks up to it, she noticed that it indeed covered her ears! Making the whole thing look uniform and like she didn’t even have them. Well, the Yautja didn’t have ear on the outside, so she would look even more weird if she had her ears sticking out. But Nalas eyes couldn’t look away from her eye covering. It was white as snow and was clearly shaped to accent the bridge of her nose. The part that covered her nose and mouth looked like all the other masks, it stuck out a few inches, with distinct lines come from it to show her cheeks. But on the side that would be her right was her mark of becoming an Young Blood. As Nala trails down her armor, she couldn’t help but gasp as on the stand, right where her neck would be, was a Hard Mead head made out of her cloud metal that would perfectly shape around her scar, guarding it from anyone or anything. Shapely shoulder guards came next into her eyes, subtle but seen lines for where the metal could move when she did made her think of an armadillos armor. From there each arm had only a small price of metal along the outside of her arm and then one for her forearm. On her right one however was a mechanisms for where her wrist computer would be placed, and on her left, her wrist blades. But there was something that rested just beyond that that made Nalas eyes widen. Just beyond both the wrist guards, were what could be seen as gloves. But these gloves were not the normal. If they looked like anything, they looked like a Yautja hand. Tipped with razor sharp claws, the tops of Nalas hands would be covered by her cloud metal to make her hand like that of a true Yautja, giving her the same advantage as them.

Her chest was protected by a simple but beautifully sculpted piece of her cloud metal that cupped her breasts completely, to Nalas orders, and it even covered lower onto her abdomen to reach the base of her rib bones. From there on was nothing, her stomach and such out be exposed, Nala however knew that she would get Kaine to make something to guard that part of her. She wasn’t as strong as the Yautja and needed extra protection, and it would give him more to create. The belt that would be wrapped around Nalas waist tightly already had spots made for her future weapons, but they were all lose so that Kaine could tighten them as to what she would have on her. Just below that was a mid-thigh length loincloth, made from her cloud metal of course, that was also layered for movement. What made Nala grimace a bit was that it only covered about six or seven inches of her front! While Nala understood that she would need as much movement as possible, she didn’t want to give her pray a peep show. Her eyes soon fell even lower though, and she was met with bare thighs. Remembering back, Nala knew that with all the Yautja she had seen in their Awu’asa, their thighs were open. And yet just like them, her lower leg was covered with her cloud metal, perfectly curved to her body. Nala had to stifle a laugh when she sees her…shoes? Maybe boots? Either way, just like her hands, her feet were covered with Yautja shaped extremities, Kaine even went so far to give her the look of only four toes. Nala knew Dhm'Ni was going to have a field day with that!

“I gave you every advantage and disadvantage that we Yautja have, taloned hands and feet for example of an advantage. But the bare thighs are a must to every hunter as I am sure you know.” Kaine began. “It is undressed of its weapons of course, but we will discuss that later as to what you want included. It is fully wearable now however, if you would like to try it on now we can” He says to her, but Nala wasn’t really listening. As she walks around to the back of her Awu’asa, Nala sees that her spine would be protected as her cloud metal was linked together to cover it from the base of her neck to the belt at the small of her back. The back of her loincloth, thankfully, was more to about ten inches in width, covering her butt nicely.

“I think we should get to her other garment first.” Sya answers for her. He couldn’t help but smile at her young mind as she looked at her first Awu’asa. Most pups, when given their first set of armor, acted like this. Awestruck, wide-eyed, shocked and marveled.

“You acted the same way when you we given your first Awu’asa.” Lord Khupiee laughs and gives his son a light smack to his back. But Dhm'Ni didn’t care. He too was entranced by this amazing sight before him. It was a stunning piece of artistry on Kaines part. And he didn’t miss the toe thing.

“Then on to her ceremonial.” Kaine thrills. “Quickly cover her eyes once more and DON’T fool with her Sya, I truly want this to be a surprise.” He laughs as he ushers Nala back in front of Sya. She was speechless even then, all she could do was mumble the words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘wow’ over and over again until Sya shook her on the shoulder to wake her from her daze.

“I will not trick you a second time, Little One.” Sya laughs and places a hand over her eyes.

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!” Nala says rather coolly. But the Yautja thought that hilarious, shrills and thrills of laughter all around her. That is until she heard the sounds of the helpers carrying out her last garment. Nala was still for a moment, waiting for her time to look, when the most horrific smell filled her. Instantaneously Nala growls deep in her throat as the smell of hell during a heat wave completely engulfs her. She began to breathe harshly out of her nose, emphasizing that she could indeed smell Hard Meat. But what was it from? Could it be that a Hard Meat decided to reveal itself now? Nala quickly dismissed that thought. But where was the eerily familiar scent from? Even though Nala tried to stay calm with the smell, all those in the room could hear her heart as it raced almost uncontrollably, her scent changed from rather calm to raging and she was even clenching and unclenching her fists. Sya was not one bit worried though, because right before him was the reason for why she was so agitated. With a reaffirming squeeze, Sya stilled her heart and breathing.

“I knew it would get a reaction, but not that kind of reaction.” Kaine says softly. Perhaps using the Queen to forge her ceremonial attire was not so good of an idea. With a soft nod, Kaine signals to Sya to release her from his hold, but as his hand falls from Nalas face, they found her eyes to be tight shut. She just couldn’t bring herself to look at it just yet. If her suspicions were right, then Kaine had gone a little further then using the Queen just to make her hair bindings. Taking one like deep, calming breathe Nala opens her eyes slowly.

With an emotionless face, Nalas eyes first fall on the mask that she would be wearing. But it was not like the mask from her Awu’asa, not even close. While the other mask formed to the curve of her head, this one ran straight up, just as it would with a Hard Meat Queen. The piece that was now her mask was perfect effigy of the Queen, her Queen that she killed. Every bump of her crown, every curve of her skin. While eyeless normally, Kaine had to add an eyes piece to the strangely colored item. The color was almost like her cloud metal, but just a few shades darker. Below her eyes piece however was something that made Nala very angry, and yet happy. The image captured with the sculpted bone of the Queen is of when she would have screamed. Her outer mouth open and wide, the odd lips lifted and the teeth half lifted into its jaw. And beyond that was its inner mouth. It was not extended though, giving the mask a flush appearance from the front, but from the side, the whole thing juts out for about two inches beyond her face. Perfectly picturing the Queen in all her horrific glory. As before, Nalas neck scar would be covered, but this time with a smaller but full figured Hard Meat. Its head guarding her neck, its hands stretching around her neck to completely surround it. Its legs and tail fell down her chest and it was soon met with the top of her breast plate, the two pieces joining to one. The only thing that was covered of her front were her breasts by two well shaped cups. Their color was the same dark cloud, but its texture was the same as it is for her mask, ribbed and bumped just as the Queens crown. From then down, everything was bare until the top of her loincloth. While this one was the same width as her Awu’asa, it was ankle length and the front had a mighty powerful image on it. Nala instantly knew what the picture was of, her Queen. The image displayed the moment right after Rathe had given his prized blades to Nala, the Queen standing tall with her hands bound by chain, one however was not as a small reminder that one of her hands did in fact go free, her face free of its muzzle. But at the bottom of this image, at the base of the dark cloud colored mangle of a picture, was a small figure set in black. No larger then Nalas hand, the small thing was a silhouette of Nala holding the blades above her head in the same ‘x’ shape she had done before. Only then did Nala notice unlike her Awu’asa, her feet were not clawed like a Yautja, but they were naked of any covering. Even as Nala looked to her hands, and she also saw that her fingers would go unguarded, she couldn’t help but think that perhaps she would need more then nothing. She also noticed then that the helpers were holding large rings that she could only guessed that would come up to around her arms and such, but what got her was that they were of Hard Meats curling around themselves. They were beautiful. Taking a small step forwards, Nala couldn’t help but smile.

“First she killed all I knew.” Nala whispers but all in the room could hear her fine. “Then I killed her. I guess it is befitting that now I would wear her.” She pauses as she gets close enough to touch her mask, but doesn’t. She would save that for later. “No wonder why I smelt them.” She laughs and turns to the large group who, like her, was speechless at the sight.

“I knew that you would like that.” Kaine thrills and bows his head to her, but to his shock, Nala does the same to him.

“Thank you for such wonderful thing Kaine. They are more beautiful then I could have ever imagined. And you have given me such a wonderful gift as to wear her body over mine.” Nala says softly.

“I didn’t think you had it in you.” Lord Khupiee laughs a compliment to the Awu’asa maker.

“That is something else.” Someone says from within the group.

“And its mine.” Nala whispers, taking one last look at it. “And now, if you guys don’t mind, Kaine and I have to discuss a few things. If you don’t need to be here, I am sure I will see all of you later.” With that those who needed to or decided to leave did, leaving Sya, Dhm'Ni, Lord Khupiee and a few other Arbitrators.

“Nala, your heart was beating so wildly that I thought it would burst from you!” Rathe laughs.

“Well, what can you expect?” Nala shrugs. “Out of the blue I can smell the one thing that makes me angrier then I have ever been in my entire life, and you think that I would be calm?” She says sarcastically.

“As to your other garments,” Kaine interrupts. “Your sleepwear ranges from a simple bra like top and underwear like you had with the Alsn, to full body coverage to keep you warm. Your other undergarments we can discuss later, I would have to do further measurements and see what you like best.” Nala was fast in thanking him. Now that she and Dhm'Ni were sharing the bed, perhaps it was best she was wearing more. Dhm'Ni thought the same thing and would later ask Kaine to make him a pair of leggings.

“I think that now is the time for Nalani to learn how to wear her Awu’asa.” Sya sighs. He knew what was coming even before it started. “I think that were will all go to the training deck so you and Kaine can get you fitted and so we can train you with your new armor.” Sya and the others give Nala a fast good bye and leave her with Kaine. Sya just knew that when Nala came out of that room, she was going to be very mad.

“” “” “” “”

The whole group was gathered on the training deck in anticipation of Nalas appearance in her Awu’asa. And to pass the time Nder, who was always in here, was sparing with a few of the others there. It had been a few hours and with every passing moment, Sya and a few of the others, including Lord Khupiee, were becoming worried about her. They all knew that she was not one to stay in one place for to long and staying with Kaine for hours on end rattled even the most calm of hunters. But they soon had their thoughts answered when in the middle of Nder and another were scrabbling on the ground, one of the thickest scents makes them all stop. Every Yautja in that room knew in an instant that the scent they carried now was a mixture of rage, anger and pure resentment. Sya knew who it was that was radiating that scent, and he slowly turns around to see her. There, standing just beyond the lift, was his Nalani complete in her newly made Awu’asa, her arms crossed over her chest, her mask attached to her belt as it would when she was not wearing it. But the look on her face was unmistakable.

“Sya…” Nala growls loudly so he would hear her across the room, but with the silence that was over all the males there, she didn’t need to yell. “If you can give me one reason, one thoughtful, reasonable, logical, rational, sensible, realistic and valid reason as to why the hell I just spent HOURS with Kaine learning how to put this dammed Awu’asa on with all its clasps, its hooks, its latches, ALL OF IT, when not to long ago I had how many of those pauk-de implants impaled into my skin so that my Awu’asa could hold on to me, I won’t have to hurt someone.” Every male on that deck had a sudden instinctual urge to run away from the female.

“From the beginning of our time, we have had our traditions.” Sya began in a stern but not disciplining tone. “No matter how far we advance, no matter how useless or frivolous something may seem to you or even me, the tradition of the Yautja will always be routed in the hunt. And with that, everything must have something of the past. Something to keep it as it was. No matter how far we go, no matter how much we change, evolve, advance, progress and prosper, we must keep our traditions.” Nala may have been convinced, but she was still mad as hell! “But also, the implants given to you are meant to be extensions of your body. They work with the same electricity that you mind gives out when it orders your fingers to move. And when you wear your Awu’asa, it moves as though it is your body. Your mind tells it to do things as it would when it tells your body. While before that technology was made, it worked simply on muscle tension. But to often would a Yautja accidentally maim someone because they inadvertently extended their wrist blades. Your implants are there to insure that your Awu’asa does what it is told. Tell me how you place on the Awu’asa, name and list each and ever process to go through, in order.” Sya asks, still being the teacher he is. With a soft grunt, Nala begins to walk towards her teacher and with each step she began to name off every step on how to put together an Awu’asa. From the first thing of placing on the body net, which Nala thought was so kinky, to the loincloth buckle and chest plates. Naming each in their respective order. Never missing a beat, Nala stops in front of Sya and finishes his question, and once done, she crosses her arms once more and looks at him emotionlessly.

“It takes cycles for a Yautja to learn how to properly place on their Awu’asa, never the less remember it in one session.” Bakkub gasps.

“I have a good memory.” Nala says nonchalantly. Unseen by any, Nder had moved off from the larger group and had made his way to the wall of weapons, planning on now sparing with the female. But he did not want to fight her with just any weapons. He grabs two sets of skov sticks. With a length the same as Nalas arm, Nder would have to cut and shave down her set as they are held one in each hand and with her size, she wouldn’t be able to hold them. And so, taking a sharp blade from the wall as well, Nder cuts a specific amount from the bottom of each stick to cut it down to her size and to allow her hands to hold them. Once that was done, Nder turns back to the scene and finds Nala standing in front of Sya. Carefully walking to her side, with one set of skov sticks for him and for her, Nder interrupts the staring contests.

“I have been waiting for you Little One.” Nder says softly, taking Nalas attention.

“Have you now?” She says, turning her head to him. “And why have you been waiting for me?”

“I wish to spar.” He says bluntly, handing her set to her. “These are skov sticks, perfect for training. Do you wish to spar with me?”

“I would, yes.” Nala says and turns tail on the large group and walks with Nder to a larger square to spar. “Would you like me to take of my Awu’asa? You do not have yours on, it give me too much protection.”

“To make it even, I suppose.” Nder laughs as he walks to one side of the sparing square to wait for her. And with her time, Nala stands behind a line and begin to take off her armor, one piece at a time and without pausing as she would never forget how to put on or how to take it off. Placing each piece of her Awu’asa carefully on the ground, Nala left only her breast plate, her loincloth and her body net on her.

“I feel I must warn you Nder, I am agitated.” Nala warns in a soft tone.

“I can tell, and I am glad.” He laughs in response.

“How would you like this to end?” Nala asks, taking her place opposite to him. “Just sparing, or to first blood? Or shall we fight until one or both of us cannot stand any longer?”

“To exhaustion.” Nder laughs, he knew that fighting her would be fun. As Nala brings up her skov sticks, she couldn’t help but be reminded of plain wooden sticks. But these were a lot rounder and longer. Taking a bow to each other, and with the first step taken by Nder, their spar began.

Time lost all meaning as the sounds of the two bodies colliding together in battle overshadowed every other. The constant thud of stick on skin was almost deafening, every grunt of pain and of exertion coming from each made a melodic string of song. At one point in time, Nala had even lost one of her sticks, it thrown arcos the room in an attempt to smack Nder right in the head. But with his fast reflexes, it almost ended up hitting an onlooker. Everyone that was on the training deck were crowded around that large square, trying to see every move they each made. But with each and ever strike one did, the other would block and only a few times from many did either of them hit. But they hurt. Nala could almost feel the blood in her body as her heart pumped it to her any of her open wounds, Yautja hands are exponentially more dangerous then hers, and he body can atone for that as Nders talons had embedded themselves in her many times. But he didn’t go unbroken. Even with only one stick in hand, Nala had managed to place it between Nders mandibles, and she was sure that she had broken one in the scuffle as his lower right had a bone jutting out from his skin, florescent green and crimson red decorated the floor by the end. But both didn’t care. But both were getting tired.

“I knew you would be worthy to be a sparing partner.” Nder hisses as he circles around his target. “I have fought all on this ship. Well, almost all on this ship. And I have only been waiting for you.” He laughs, his words slurring from the broken mandible.

“How nice.” Nala growls. Suddenly she charges him as he steps into her field of vision. But what happened next, no one knows. All any could really make out was a blur of Nders spotted light brown and Nalas peach skin. And then just as fast as the attack started, it ended and every Yautja standing to watch was stunned as each fighter was now lying on the ground, on their backs, breathing heavily and not moving. Nala was cast on the floor about five feet from Nder, their bodies beat down, bleeding and exhausted…almost. In one last move, Nala heaves her legs up, bringing her knees to her chest then kicks them out and up, propelling her body back to a standing position. But once up, instead of running or walking, Nala pivots in her feet until her back was to a lying Nder, she sticks out a single elbow and then with all of her weight, Nala allows her whole body to fall down into Nders, her elbow hitting him right on his sternum. The grunt that came from both of them was one of pain. Nothing more, nothing less. But as Nalas body falls on his, her back on his stomach, she couldn’t find the strength to get up.

“I don’t think I can stand any more.” Nala laughs hysterically, each chuckle making her wince in pain.

“Nor can I.” Nder says as well.

“Well if that wasn’t a moronic display of wasted talent, I don’t know what else to call it.” Lord Khupiee scolds. But both of the exhausted bodies lying on the ground weren’t really listening.

“Shame you put your body through that Nala.” Sya began. “We are still going to train with your Awu’asa today, no matter how you bleed.”

“Okedoke.” Nala grunts out. Soon after their words, most of the crowd disbanded, some laughing at how Nala was hurt more from sparing with Nder then he challenge with Lidch.

“I have an offer for you Little One.” Nder says softly, knowing that his next few words would most likely make Dhm'Ni mad as he with a few other were waiting for them to stand. “I am proposing that you may stay in my room, instead of Dhm’Nis, as all of us can see you two aren’t the best of friends.” He pauses to look at Dhm'Ni so he could gloat, but as he does, Nder was met with a calm Dhm'Ni. He wasn’t mad, or angry. If anything he was smug. “While I am on the Blooded deck, I am sure all those who also share that deck would not mind.”

“Well…” Nala starts, grunting as she lifts her body off of the one beneath hers to a sitting position. “I thank you for your offer, but I just got comfy. I think I will keep my hold on Dhm’Nis bed.” She laughs, patting Nder on his chest lightly. Now he understood why Dhm'Ni looked rather smug with his offer, he knew that Nala would decline it. But why all the sudden are they so nice to one another? What happened? Nder was confused. Before, Dhm'Ni had said he was praying to Paya that she would move out, now they both seem to want to keep their arrangements.

“Now Nalani.” Sya barks.

“I’m up. I’m up.” Nala tells him quickly, but she was faster in standing and then helping Nder up as well.

“I can see how that you are ready Little One.” Lord Khupiee laughs.

“Ready? Ready for what?” Nala asks as she starts to place her Awu’asa on, flawlessly attaching it without mistake or pause.

“Ready for your first hunt of course. In three days, you will have more then just Hard Meat for your trophy room.” Lord Khupiee laughs at both Nalas face, and at her excitement evident in her eyes.

“” “” “” “”

“If anyone says ‘you smell nervous’ to me, I am going to stick my foot up their ass.” Nala warns as she, Lord Khupiee, all of the Arbitrators, Dhm'Ni and a few others stand in the hunters’ bay, an all too familiar place to her.

“Your scent tells me that you are anxious.” Sya laughs.

“Did I not just say not to say that?” Nala whines.

“No, you said not to say that ‘you smell nervous’. I didn’t say that. I said that ‘your scent tells me that you are anxious.’” Sya laughs even hard.

“You are learning too much from Nala.” Thr'ik puts in. “She is also one to play on her words.” Out of the blue even hunter in the room feels a sudden shake, signaling that they have landed. And with that, every one places on their mask. One thing that made Nalas Awu’asa even more unlike the Yautja, was what was inside of it. When Nala first saw the inside of Dhm’Nis mask, she saw a thin strip of the same lining that was used on the rim of the mask, running right through the middle. And what stunned Nala was that in order to switch between their spectrums to see, they would use the muscles that rested just above heir mandibles to order them to change. Their muscle and how they moved would signal their masks to roam, go to a certain view and even into aiming for their shoulder cannon. But for Nala, because she doesn’t have the same muscle movement there, Kaine had to improvise and now the implants that are on her temples serve as her connection to her sights. It took a few days for Nala to really learn how to use it and she had one hell of a time looking into those around her. But she was warned by a few that it is considered ruse to look at ones innards without permission, so that stopped her fun right then and there. On this hunt however Nala would only need a few sights, definitely to the one to aim her shoulder cannon because while she has the mechanism to hold it, Sya and everyone else for that matter didn’t think she would be able to handle that just yet. But Kaine had done a wonderful job in making Nalas arsenal. Everything had to be cut down so her hands could fit the normal of Yautja weapons. There were her wrist blades, knives, shurikens, even a few of her own blades but she would never have them all on her in case she would lose them all at once, there was even an extendable spear hidden somewhere on her.

“Everyone can learn something from the funny little Ooman.” Nala laughs, taking a moment to adjust to her ears being covered. But with the mask, it helped her hearing. Amplifying and pinpointing sounds, it made it better. When the door to the hunters’ bay finally began to open, they all took their places with Nala behind almost all of them but the rest of the attending Young Bloods with her. As Nala follows the group down the ramp, the first thing she noticed was that the world she was no stepping on was actually not too different from any marsh land on Earth. The ground is covered with a thick blanket of green slim and rocks. But just beyond the tree line was a forest full of giant vegetation with all of it somehow covered with the same slimy green stuff. As Nalas first foot falls to the ground, her heart began to beat uncontrollably because she was on another planet. It was the most exciting and most terrifying thing in her whole life. once everyone was out, only then did Nala look back and the fight before her made her feel so small. Not only was she overshadowed by all of the hunters around her, but this was her first time seeing the DropShip without its cloak. When they were on her world, it was cloaked, but since there was no intelligent life on this planet, they didn’t need to worry about it. But when the giant almond shaped ship began to move, Nala was frozen in her steps. The whole thing was black as night, making Nala think that they wouldn’t need a cloak in space because it looked like space.

“Nalani.” Lord Khupiee calls.

“Sorry…” She gasps. Nala didn’t see that as she had stopped to look at the DropShip leave the group had moved a little ways without her. “I didn’t know just how big it was…I never saw it before.” She says, making her way back to the group.

“Where should we take her?” Sya asks to no one in particular.

“We should bring her to a smaller area to find the Tomooc.” Rathe began. “The Tomooc are fierce pray, perhaps she should go for one that is not fully grown, just to give her a taste.” As the conversation went on about where the group was going to bring Nala, she was listening and was shocked. How dare they think that she needs to be babied to hunt? ‘Bring her to a smaller area for smaller pray’, what the hell? She was not a baby, she’s not a pup. No, she wasn’t going to go with them. Each hunter is allowed to roam when the hunt begins, it is their right to find their own grounds. And Nala was going to do just that. Switching her sights to thermals, Nala begins to look around the surrounding area for any heat spots that would prove to be a bog or swamp, that would look larger or more active then any other, just to see what was there. When lord Khupiee described what a Tomooc was, Nala just wanted to see it for real. When she finally spots a good bog, Nala suddenly became very calm. With one quick look back into he group, Nala saw that no one was looking her way and she slowly begins to back away from them and into the thick forest. Once she was far enough away, Nala activates her cloak and slips into the dense brush, heading towards her new destination.

“I do not think that ‘just a taste’ is enough for Nala.” Inkle laughs. “Since Lord Khupiee told her of the hunt she has spoken of nothing but getting off the DropShip.”

“Strange she would be so eager to get away from us.” Dh’Kn jokes. “But now that she will be able to stretch her legs on her first hunt, I am sure that she would gain wonderful trophies for her time.

“I would hate for her to have her first hunt and gain only meek trophies for her first true hunt with us. Perhaps we should let her decide.” M’Ho lends his opinion. “So Nala, what would you like to do?” he asks, but when he did not get a response they all turn around to find her gone.

“I swear to the Gods that female needs a bell on her.” Sya roars.

“Did anyone see where she went to?” Lord Khupiee growls, but all he got was a bunch of ‘no’s. “How can Nalani simply disappear? How can she keep doing this?”

“My guess is the female is angry with the lot of you.” A voice in the back of the group proposes.

“Who speaks, come to the front.” Lord Khupiee hisses. And soon a figure wearing a dark brown Awu’asa strolls up towards to group. “Dhyot’te’ka, what do you know?”

“From my experiences with Nalani, she does not like being told where to go. And now all of you were discussing where it is she should be hunting, informing her of where to go.” Dhyot’te’ka says in a calming tone as to not anger any of them. “That female likes to do things on her own. While my guess is that, it could be a number of other things. But I believe she has already started the hunt.”

“C’jit.” Sya hisses. “He’s right, look.” They all turn to him and see him pointing west. When Sya heard Dhyot’te’ka he knew that he was right and so he was quickly making his way through all of his sights and then there she was. Her red heat signature was sitting up on one of the large trees just at the edge of the largest swamp in the vicinity. Activating his COM, Sya tries repeatedly to contact her but gets no response. “That female is dodging the COM.” Sya hisses.

“Go to all bands.” Pakka advises. He couldn’t help but think this whole ordeal funny, Nala did seem to wonder off. With his advice, Sya switches his COM so that all hunters would hear, making it so even if Nala had it that she couldn’t be contacted, she would hear him.

“NALANI!” He roars into every ones ears, making a few of the attending hunters’ even recoil at the sudden burst. “Nalani I know you can hear me. What are you doing wondering off at your first hunt?” But he still got no answer. And so out of pure frustration, Sya roars at the loudest tenor he could muster.

“Any louder Sya and you would have frightened my pray away.” Nalas whispering voice comes over the COM.

“Nalani.” Sya growls, only ever using her full name when he is serious. “What are you doing leaving the hunting party?” He hisses.

“I don’t know what you, all of you, are thinking. What do you see me as?” Nala asks, making more then a few of them confused as all could hear the conversation. “Do you see me as a pup? As a child that needs to be shown how to do any thing? Would you even trust me to wipe my own ass, Sya?” She growls. “All of you were talking of me like I was a pup!”

“If you don’t recall Nala, you are only a nine and half seasons old pup by our count.” Sya hisses. But only silence came back to him. Sya thought that he had caught her there, she was young by their standards. But by Ooman years…

“If you don’t recall Sya, I am a mature, full grown, adult OOMAN!” Nala hisses back. “I am not a Yautja Sya. I do not have the mind set of a nine and a half seasons old child! I am not inexperienced when it comes to any of this and I am completely and utterly insulted that you, ALL OF YOU think of me as anything other then an adult!” She says a little louder but still in a whisper. “I do not care of how old I am to you, of how my seasons is nothing compared to yours. But I AM older by my mind then half of the attending hunters. So don’t you dare ask me why I left. Don’t you dare think that just because I am ‘young’ to you that I am not as capable, intelligent or experienced as ANY of you! If any thing I know more evil, more death, more destruction, more devastation then any of you! You know nothing of me.” Nala sounding almost saddened. “Now if you don’t mind, my eye is one a bright yellow Tomooc that is actually bigger then Thr'iks ego.” Pressing the silence on her wrist computer, Nala was now sure that no one will be able to contact her. She was hurt they Sya would even think of her as young. With the time they have spent with each other, it was a give-in that they would know a few things of each other but in truth, they know nothing of her. They don’t know of her past, they don’t know of anything. And for all of them to assume that she needs any kind of assistance is just rude. Adjusting her position on the large tree limb, Nala went back to her pray. The Tomooc was indeed long and tall, but if it looked like anything it was a crocodile or an alligator, except for its head. The ones that Nala could see, with their heads half in, half out of the murky swamp water, was that their skins were all either yellow, brown or orange and their heads looked like that of a birds. Strange curved beaks that when they opened thick, long and sharp teeth were shown. But as Nala was observing them, a strange animal appeared from no where and began to sip at the waters edge. She couldn’t think of even drinking that water, but then again you gota do what’ya gota do. But a few seconds after the animal lowered its head to sip, one of the largest Tomooc she had seen suddenly bursts from the muck and with open jaws chomps down onto the drinking animal. It didn’t even squeal, scream or whine. The giant yellow Tomooc drags the dead animal under the water, which soon began colored with a strange blue tint. That Tomooc was hers.

With her sights, Nala tracks her pray to one end of the swamp hole, the beast chomping on its own meal. Grabbing a full spindle of hang line, Nala jumps from tree to tree to get as close to her pray as it absentmindedly floats around the water. As she makes her way around, she uses each of the strongest limbs of the trees around to and anchors an end of the line, planning on using them as a way to get the beast from the water. Judging that the Tomooc was about one fifty maybe even two hundred pounds, Nala picks the heaviest branch to use as a counter weight. Once she ties it down, and then ties the other end with a lasso, Nala places the large circle of the hanging line just over the beast. Even as it hit the water the Tomooc wasn’t fazed. Road block. How could she get it to jump from the water like it did with that other animal? Drumming her metal claws on the tree branch, Nala was stumped. Maybe it was more like an alligator then she thought. Opening a shuriken, Nala slices off a large piece of wood to toss into the water to startle the beast and make it jump into the ring of line so she could drag it out. Keeping her weapon open and taking one last deep breath, she tosses the chuck of tree into the water and just as she thought the Tomooc jumps up from the water and right into the round line. Once it was relatively tangled, Nala uses her shuriken and with a swift cut, severs the heavy tree branch at its root and it starts to fall towards the swamps ground, and because it was attached to the Tomooc, it drags it out of the water and onto more solid ground. Not taking a moment to even think, Nala jumps down from her perch and runs towards the beast. But just as the counter weight was about to reach the ground, it gets stuck between the other limbs and instead of the Tomooc being pulled to its upper torso would be half raised, it ended up simply laying on the ground.

Before Nala could even think, the Tomooc began to thrash and jiggle from the line as it was wrapped around its neck and one of its arms. Extending her wrist blades, Nala growls deep in her throat and keeps running but abruptly stops when the beasts’ body suddenly lifts up and then whips its long tail at the charging Nala. She couldn’t even move as the extremely sharp tail slams itself into her open stomach, making just another whip scar for her. But with the net, the new wound had spots of unbroken skin, but it still stung like hell. Nala inwardly scolds herself for not going to Kaine as she planned to get her stomach covered, and now it was too late. With quick thinking, Nala cuts the tail off at the base with her wrist blades, severing it from its body. But the sound that came from the Tomooc was so loud, so horrid that Nala went momentarily deaf. But in mid scream, Nala couldn’t take it any longer and stabs it right at its neck, twisting it to truly kill it and its screech. When it fell silent and motionless, Nala falls to the ground and sits against the large body of the Tomooc to breath.

“Was that as good for you as it was for me?” She asks it, patting its head and loving the thought that it was going to be on her, well her half of the wall, in the trophy room.

“” “” “” “”

“Hello?” Nala calls out. She had taken two more, smaller Tomooc who were attracted to the larges blood as she was skinning it and taking its skill. But as she made her way back to the place where they were dropped, she was met with a small shuttle. Well, it wasn’t that small but compare to the DropShip it was minuscule. The back of the thing was wide open so the hunters could walk in, and as Nala made her way into it, it was empty. “Hello?” She calls out once more.

“Yeah.” A voice from all the way in the ship says.

“What’s going on?” Nala asks, placing her three skulls and three pelts of Tomooc skin, that was more like snake skin, onto a large chair.

“Nalani, is that you?” From the front of the ship a large Yautja appears, but he was not with the hunting party.

“I think I am.” Nala laughs as the Yautja walks to her.

“I am Ojhm.” He was wearing a mask because with the back hatch open he wouldn’t be able to breathe normally without it. “I am the pilot.”

“Well, hi.” Nala smiles under her mask but nods a greeting to him. “So, why no DropShip?” Before he answers, Ojhm ushers her into the small bridge so they can talk without the mask. When the doors close, he tells her that it is safe and they sits down on two of the chairs to talk.

“The DropShip was just contacted by the Elders that are to come to judge you so it has to stay in orbit to keep the COM connection. I was sent down to retrieve the hunters as they came back. I didn’t expect you to be the first back.” Ojhm explains.

“I started early.” Nala laughs.

“I saw your trophies. But why the skins? They are cannot be used as bedding or even cloth.” He asks.

“I was thinking of bringing to it Kaine to see if he wants to make anything of it. Maybe something to guard my stomach. That larger Tomooc got me with its tail.” Nala displays her healed wound on her front, it took a while and a lot of courage but she used a mild healing gel that caused more pain then actually being hit there. “Just another scar.” She sighs.

“Are you ever going to tell your stories?” Ojhm asks gently, intrigued with her new scar.

“I will. I will.” Nala reassures and rest into the chair to wait for the others.

“” “” “” “”

“I know you recommended to give her space Sya, but now we cannot even see her.” Dhm'Ni says a little worried.

“She was clearly angry.” Sya began, carrying his own trophy on his back. “Knowing her she probably hunted and then chose to rest to calm down.”

“But we cannot see her any longer.” Lord Khupiee interjected. “What if she went too far.”

“She is not stupid!” Inkle hisses. “She knows not to stray too far. She may have even gone back to the drop point.”

“Perhaps.” Sya sighs. He was a little angry with himself in fact. How could he have even thought to call Nala a pup? She is an adult Ooman. She is at her top of her growing time and here he was, along with the others, babying her.

“We have to head that direction anyways. And if Nala has gone their Ojhm would be there.” Lord Khupiee says as he and all the others with him begin to make their way back. “The Elders are unexpectedly calling on my presents. We need to head back anyways.” He says.

It didn’t take long for the remaining members of the hunting party to get back to the drop point, and when they entered the open hatch, they were met with Nalas three trophies and pelts.

“She took three!” Miy’Hota thrills. “And she even took their skins.” They all laugh at the scene as no other hunter took more then two. And one of Nalas was a very large skull indeed. “But where is she?” He asks, looking around the large hold and at al the chair that each hunter would sit on but none of them held Nala.

“She is most likely up with Ojhm.” Dhm'Ni says as he begins walking to the small bridge. Once all the hunters were inside, one of the closes the hatch and soon all of the Yautja had their masks off, their butts in a chair and their trophies at their sides. “How did I know you would be hassling the pilot?” Dhm'Ni asks entering the room.

“She was doing the opposite of hassling me.” Ojhm laughs. “This female can keep up her end of the conversation.”

“Oh!” Nala gasps. “You want me to just sit here to be something to look at?”

“Well, you’re not that nice to look at but you are nice to talk to.” Ojhm laughs even harder at Nalas face.

“Well I never…” Nalas mouth was open in shock. Just then Sya and Lord Khupiee enter the bridge and Nala gives a warm smile to each.

“A smile?” Sya says cautiously. “That was the last thing I was expecting.”

“We said our words. Nothing more needs to be thought or said on the subject.” Nala tells strongly.

“Let’s get back.” Lord Khupiee tells the pilot. “We have trophies to clean and the night to sleep.” It was getting rather late. It was close to the last meal and most of the hunters were quite hungry.

“” “” “” “”

The trip back was eventful. Nala was showing off her new scar and a lot of the males were demanding her appearance at the society room to tell her story, but Nala declined. However she promised to go the next day, she was planning on getting a lot of sleep that night. But her plans were scraped once she got back on board the DropShip. She had followed the group to the cleaning rooms which she had been in before. It is a gruesome place to be true. It is a blend of a butchers shop and like…a gem polishers. Every knife you could imagine to properly get a skull out and even more applications to buff and shine it. But on her way to that room, Nala had caught a glimpse of a room that had very large windows that looked out into space. But before she could really look, Sya pushed her forwards to clean her trophies. Once that job was done, she and Dhm'Ni headed to their room to place their prizes. Nala was sure to make fun of his items because while she had three, he only had two and they were small then her smallest. She even remarked on how well her thought of a larger swamp means larger pray. But just as the two walked into their room and then to their trophy room, Nala nearly dropped all that was in her hands as she sees the skull of the warrior Hard Meat she had killed that lord Khupiee had order to be taken in. It was different from the others of Dhm'Ni as they were just drones. But Nala wouldn’t pick at that, that would just be mean. But when she asked whether or not the Queens skull would also be in here, she was reminded that her head would be just a little too big. After that, they both cleansed in the Usipa water. She had leant from Sya how to properly do it as Dhm'Ni adamantly refused to show her himself. While he was comfortable to sleep in the same bed, and enough to even bath with her in the next room, standing naked and cleaning oneself in front of her was too much just yet. Nala had changed into her night wear that Kaine had given to her, this night she would wear long pants of a fabric that felt softer then silk at a bra like top. It was very comfortable and beautiful. Dhm'Ni had opted to have a full bath after he cleansed, claiming to need the rest. Nala didn’t want to sleep just yet however, and wanted to go the that room with the windows. When she steps outside of her room, she was thankful to see a few Yautja out of their rooms and talking of the hunt that just happened.

“Hey.” Nala says to get their attention. “I have a question. I saw this room or something when I was going to the cleaning room. It had really large windows that you could look out to space.”

“The observation deck.” Khanna informs. “Why would you want to go there?”

“Because I just want to look.” Nala smiles at him.

“Take the lift to deck ten. Then take a right and keep going. You won’t miss it.” Another Yautja there tells her. After she says her thank-you’s she leaves to go finds this ‘observation deck.’ What she didn’t know was that she left before they could tell her a single piece of vital information.

Inside their room however, Dhm'Ni was oblivious to her leaving and simply stayed in the bath for about an hour. When he was done, Dhm'Ni pulls on his own pair of sleep leggings that he had Kaine make. It made his and Nalas sleeping arrangement more comfortable now that he knew nothing would fall out.

“Are you hungry?” Dhm'Ni asks as he exits the bathroom, but he was met with only an empty room. Maybe she had already gone to eat. Quickly leaving his room, Dhm'Ni walks to the small group that was still outside their rooms and talking. And to Dhm'Ni luck, Khanna was there as well.

“Have you seen Nala?” Dhm'Ni asks.

“She questioned about the observation section on deck ten.” Khanna answers, finding it funny that he was looking for her. “But she left before we could tell her how the observation rooms are hardly used and so not heated. I thought that perhaps she would just come back at the temperature but I guess she can handle it cold.” He says without thought. Dhm'Ni however was worried. Nala wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of cold. Grunting to the group a goodbye, he swiftly makes his way back into his room and then into the bath room to get his coat. Made out of a beast from the Homeworld, the black animals skin makes for an excellent coat and with the knowledge that Nala was in an observation section for so long, Dhm'Ni guess that she would be cold. As he made his way to deck ten, Dhm'Ni places on the warm coat just at the lift doors open. Taking a right, he could already see Nala sitting on the ground in front of the large glass windows. Dhm'Ni takes a seat next to her and doesn’t mind that he didn’t acknowledge him, he too was engrossed with the sight. There must have been billions of stars lighting space. Some were even colored as they were planets and space oddities. After a few minutes however, Dhm'Ni thought it best to say something.

“Do you like it here?” He asks, still worried at the temperature. He even had to cover his feet that were slicking out from the bottom of his coat. Bit Nala didn’t answer. Only when Dhm'Ni looked at her did he see her face. Nala had talked about her trances. Explaining that she would sometimes have an involuntary one and it seemed like now was one of those times. But not only was Nalas face blank, but her body was a purple-blue color, something was definitely wrong. “Nala.” Dhm'Ni yells, shaking her to make sure she woke. And when she did, all Nala could really say was ‘wow’. Nalas eyes begin to focus and she turns to Dhm'Ni a little dizzy. But when she saw him in that black thing from the bathroom closet, Nalas body finally told her just how cold it way. Her body begins to shake and shiver, her bottom lip quivering. Bringing up her hands, they begin to shake uncontrollably.

“Holy C’jit it’s really, really cold.” Nala shutters out her words.

“Come in.” Dhm'Ni sighs, opening his coat to the cool air.

“What?” Nala asks, never taking her eyes off her shaking hands. Not liking just how cold he was getting, Dhm'Ni was fast in grabbing Nala by her waist and pulling her onto his lap and then quickly closes his coat around her. Dhm'Ni had to hiss as her skin touched his, she was unbelievably cold. “Wha…what are you doing?” Nala asks.

“You are cold, I am warm. I have the coat, you don’t.” He bluntly states. But with her words, Nala grasps the very warm fur coat and immediately begins to feel warm from it and Dhm'Ni.

“Thank you.” Dhm'Ni just grunts. For a few minutes Nala simply sat there to get warm. She even moved a bit to get more comfortable, with both of them ending up sitting cross-legged. Nala seemed to fit into Dhm'Ni like a puzzle piece, neither were really uncomfortable or worried about sitting together.

“What do you see?” Nala finally speaks.

“Out there?” He motions to the window with his head.

“Yeah. I mean, yes you can see stars and planets and all that. But figuratively what do you see?” It took a moment, but Dhm'Ni knew what she meant.

“Hunts.” He laughs. “And you?”

“My future.” She whispers. “When I was talking with Ojhm before, a lot of things came to my attention.”

“Like what?” Dhm'Ni asks.

“Like, how Sya had only said those things because he was really worried about me. I knew that but I also knew that I had to tell him and all of you that I am not a pup. Granted I act childish but if I was always serious life wouldn’t be fun. But then he said something that really made me sad.” Nala pauses to breath. “Did you know, that if I survive every hunt, if I survive every challenge, if I survive every obstacle in my way and I grow old and into a scrawny old lady…All of you will have to watch me die.” She whispers. Dhm'Ni really didn’t know what to say. “I don’t age like you guys Dhm'Ni. I mean, if I survive everything that is thrown my way, I will be an old lady before you even get to be of Warrior status. I will wither away like every other Ooman but you won’t even have reached your prime yet.” Now Dhm'Ni knew that he shouldn’t say anything. This was just her saying what she felt and she needed him. But to add to her comfort, Dhm'Ni wraps his arms around her and gives her a tight yet gentle squeeze. “I guess it’s just that I am missing my Homeworld.”

“Really?” Dhm'Ni blurts.

“Not the Oomans, just that planet. You know, there are trees that have this sap that if cooked right and done right, you get this sugary syrup. And I made it in my house. I miss that smell. Or milk. NO! Chocolate milk. I miss that. Have you ever been surfing Dhm'Ni?”

“Surfing? Never heard of it.” Dhm'Ni sighs. Her world was sounding stranger and stranger with every word.

“Surfing is when you take pieces of wood and shape hem into a board that it about the same length as you but its rather flat. What you do is place it in water and paddle with your hands until you are far from the shore line and then when a wave of water comes, you stand on top of the board and it rides the wave.” Nala smiles at her memories. She didn’t live in Hawaii and not do some of the native pass times.

“I have never heard of it but it sounds fun. But on my Homeworld that would not be recommended during a few cycles.” Dhm'Ni laughs.

“Why?”

“Because during certain cycles the life in the oceans become very active and would think twice in eating anything that swims in the water.”

“Oh.” Nala says a little fearful, making him laugh. “Tell me about them.” She says.

“About what?”

“About them…” Nala points to the stars but quickly puts her arm back into the warmth of the coat. “Tell me of the hunts…” For at least two hours the odd couple sat and talked of the different pray species that were out there. But when Dhm'Ni waited for Nala to chose another star that he could either make fun of her saying that it was just a ball of gas or a nebula, he found her asleep. With a deep sigh, Dhm'Ni stands and turns Nala around in his arms so that she was now facing him, her head in his neck and arms tucked between her and his chest. When the lift took them to their deck, only Khanna and one other Yautja were still outside. Their conversation still as heated about anything they could think of.

“You should have told her of the change in temperature.” Dhm'Ni says softly. “She had changed colors!” He almost laughs. Khanna and the other just laughed at the idea. An Ooman changing color… Once Dhm'Ni carried her back into their room, he only bothered the take of his and then her shoes and then simply slipped into bed with her still in his coat with him.

“” “” “” “”

As promised, Nala headed to the society deck and it seemed word got around that she was finally going to tell of her stories as it was almost full with Yautja. The room however made her gasp and not the number as the whole thing was in her favorite color of purple. Before Nala could really take in it all, a very large male stomps his way into her path, making Nala take a small step back. However, even she looked up to his face, she couldn’t stifle another gasp as a gigantic scar crossed over the whole length of his face. From the top left and the way across and down to his bottom right mandible.

“What are you looking at?” The large male growls.

“Your scar.” Nala says truly. But with her words, the large male smiles.

“Would you like to know how I got it?” He asks, leaning down a little to her.

“Oh hell yeah!” She nearly yells. Suddenly the male grabs her by the hand and begins to pull her, Nala glances back towards Sya who only nods to her to tell her it is ok and then she just follows the male to a pit of giant pillows. When the male sat her down, he moved to sit in the middle on top of a round thing and he began to tell his story.

“She was anxious when she woke.” Dhm'Ni tells his father and Sya as they to begin to walk to the middle circle where the male took Nala. “I don’t think she likes to tell her story.”

“Maybe not but in this world scars are something that needs to be told.” Lord Khupiee says. Sya was just about to add something when Nala gasps at a very scary part in the males story, covering hr mouth with her hands. Sya decided that his remark could be saved as the large males story ended.

“Now that I have told you of my scar, I get to chose one of your to tell me about.” The large male says slyly, and then with all this strength he picks up Nala by her waist to switch positions with him so that he was sitting on her spot and she was on the sound thing in the middle.

“You get to choose a scar on me to tell you of?” Nala asks confused.

“When we tell the story of a scar, we share. As in you tell me then I tell you.” Sya answers and he and the rest sit in the circle. Any Yautja that was already in there moved for them to take a better spot for her tale.

“Okay. Choose a scar.” Nala lifts her arms out and smiles at the large male.

“They say the ones that are all over your body is from torture, tell me of them.” The large male says carefully, it was what Nala expected.

“You should have chosen a different one.” Dhm'Ni laughs.

“And what one should he have chosen?” Nala asks smugly.

“He should have asked about he bit marks on our left butt cheek.” He laughs deeply as Nala softly blushes.

“Actually…” Nala says sadly. “He asked about the right ones…”

Authors Note:

OKAY! I am going to be doing something different now. There is more to this that just this chapter. As I said before, I am creating a new set of short stories for ‘Ripple’ and the name of them is ‘The Ripple of a Stone: Stories’ You can either look for it in search or even go to my profile to read it. If this is to confusing I understand and I will scrap the idea, I just didn’t want to fill up this story with so many chapters of the short stories that go with ‘Ripple.’ If you are really confused, email me and I will explain it to you.

A special thanks to:

On ff .net: Alix, aquamum, swift hunter, ben revell (my computer really was busted) and Oak Tree Woman.

On aff .net: Cara, Death God Dist, and Anon.

I think that some may have forgotten that Nala is not a Hawaiian by blood. Remember that her parents were sent there for a job when they died and she lived with an ‘uncle’ in Hawaii. So she would have a nice tan and a laid back attitude. I think that the reviewer ‘Anonymous’ explained it quite well but I felt I need to as well. Nalas father is an Irish man but she doesn’t know about her mother. I haven’t really thought about her mother but if I decide I will tell.

E.M.