The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Accepted and Rejected

Authors Note: This story I have written may not be exact with the customs and culture founded by the Predator movies, comics or stories but I have tired to stay in the area of their beliefs and ways. I have brought in elements from each of the categories and have combined them into one. I do not own Predator. Updates will be regular and changes will be made if any suggestions are made for me. Pronunciations at bottom. Some of the mentioned items in the Yautja world are made up by me. Good Reading.

E.M.

“” “” “” “”

As much as Nala wished to leave the room during her ordeal, the scent of blood was one thing even she worried would start something she didn’t want. So for little more then seven days she stayed in that room, the pain never relenting. But she was never alone. Dhm'Ni was always near, never leaving more for then needed. Sya would come everyday to see how she was, the two continuing with Nala teaching him French. He was in fact picking up the language quite well, but more then a few others would look at them oddly when they would talk in open. But during the entire ordeal, Nala slept more then she had ever in her life.

Today however Nala is nearly all better, the pain is relatively gone and she doesn’t seem so sick. But she still slept like a newborn until very late in the day. After taking a long bath, Nala comes out to find no Dhm'Ni, and then she remembers that he had planned to go to the society room that night and decides to go as well. While her stomach was still cramping every now and then, it was no where near what it was. Once she dresses in a warm suit of her casual wear with Alsn covering her arms and legs, Nala quickly gets out of their room and down to the purple one. The looks she gets are in between happy to see her healthy and pissed to see her face again. But she doesn’t care. She walks past everyone else and to the one place Dhm'Ni always went to.

“She is alive!” Thr'ik thrills as she walks into the pit filled with those she considers friends.

“You wouldn’t think it.” Nala laughs and instead of going to sit by Dhm'Ni, which he expected, she sits next to Thr'ik.

“Some say you were in pain, I do not see it.” He laughs and places a hand on her head to mess with her. Nala grabs it and places in on her stomach, Thr'ik instantly stills. While her cramps were weak, it seems the slight quaking in her was still felt by him. “This is very odd…” He breathes out. Dhm'Ni stares at his hand on her stomach, trying to hold down his anger as he was meant to sooth her pain, not Thr'ik.

“Hello my vanilla.” Dhyot’te’ka walks into the pit and makes a Young Blood move so he could sit by Nala. “Why does he hold you like that?” He asks. Dhyot’te’ka is making a clear effort not to look in Dhm'Nis direction, knowing that he would get that same glare of anger since that day in the training deck. Nala doesn’t answer removes Thr'iks hand, replacing it with Dhyot’te’kas. But instead of him thinking how it would pain her, an instant thought when dealing with a female, he wonders in that moment if he would ever be in this position again but have his pup inside her and under his hand. A sudden clattering of mandibles makes him turn his head to Dhm'Ni, his face warped in anger. Dhyot’te’ka snaps his head back to Nala when his hands can feel her insides unexpectedly clench.

“Oh c’jit.” Nala moans in pain as her stomach cramps. Dhyot’te’ka moves closer to her and keeps his hand on her, a strange face of anger formed with her odd features.

“Are you alright?” He purrs and she laughs.

“I find it so weird how you guys purr when I get hurt.” She notes.

“It is natural for when a female is hurt that a male tries to comfort her.” Dhm'Ni answers, trying not to seem angry. He shouldn’t be so possessive of her, she is nothing but a roommate. However…It is Dhm'Ni who comforts her in the middle of the night, it is he who saved her, who is there to listen to her words and there to speak about so many things. But it is Dhyot’te’ka who is holding her now, and it makes him so livid.

Dhyot’te’ka shifts his body and hers until she is basically sitting on his lap, an arm wrapped around and holding her trembling stomach. Even though Nalas hand was over his to keep it there, the warmth such an aid for the pain, he would never have taken it away unless told by her. However, when Dhyot’te’ka strokes her cheek with his free hand, two of his fingers trailing down, Nala sees something and gasps loudly.

“Stop fighting with your brother!” She exclaims as she grabs his arm, a series of cuts on them.

“That is like telling a Hard Meat not to hiss.” Thr'ik laughs.


When the conversation in the pits soon turns to the chitchat about who is fighting who, Nala rests back into Dhyot’te’ka, noting how he is nothing like Dhm'Ni. As the hours went by, Nala places her legs over Thr'iks like he was a stool, him of course hissing for her to get them off. But when Nala dares him to make her get them off, he changes his plan and grabs onto them, locking her there, but she didn’t care. The discussion was soon on more delicate matters, the Elders and Patriarch for one. It is then that Nala learns of who this Ras’Lech really is. One of the oldest Yautja alive, Ras’Lech is considered the ultimate representation of the Yautja. His hunts are legendary, his time as an Arbitrator held as one of great peace. But his knowledge of the Yautja past, his trophies, his time, everything of him is overshadowed by his unflinching devotion to keeping the Yautja as strong as possible. His brutality from keeping his position had gone as far as fighting and killing many, many newly marked Young Bloods he thought did not deserve the mark of their clan. But according to those telling Nala of him, and even seemingly to her, Ras’Lech is a wise Patriarch of the males and of the Blooded Yautja. But even so, her anxiety of meeting him just grew by a giant leap and bound.

When the words soon went to other things, most of them stupid by Nalas standards of conversation, she starts to drift off into sleep, her head resting on Dhyot’te’kas shoulder. By that time however it was rather late and a few other males had already left. Dhm'Ni knows that his wish to get her to bed was not only to keep her healthy, him guessing her excessive sleep in needed, but also to keep others safe from her, Thr'iks scar on his butt evidence of that. But just as Dhm'Ni stands along with his best friend to go sleep, he raises a brow in question to see Dhyot’te’ka not move at all.

“I will not wake her now, and nor with you.” Dhyot’te’ka hisses softly. Dhm'Ni was just about to move to him to grab Nala from his arms when the smarter of his being saw how that action may get a few wondering, and he didn’t need anymore thinking him as another male who wants to mate with her, of being an Oomanpucker. He looks once more to the sleeping female before calmly leaving her with Dhyot’te’ka. But it took everything in Dhyot’te’ka not to smile for Dhm'Ni going, he knows that his protectiveness was on the verge of going into possessiveness, if not already there. But he can understand why Dhm'Ni would find Nala so appealing. But Dhyot’te’ka would never understand why she would choose to willingly room with him. While he holds no ill feelings for Dhm'Ni, it was getting rather irritating that when ever he was with her, Dhm'Ni was not to far away trying to get them apart. Many times over the past cycle he and Nala would spare, with only him noticing Dhm'Ni in the far corners watching. Whether that was him trying to protect her or being overly overprotective of something that is not his, Dhyot’te’ka guesses that will soon some to light what Dhm’Nis intentions are.

About two hours later the only souls in the pit are Dhyot’te’ka and Nala. But just as he is about to grab a pillow to rest his head, she starts to struggle in his grip. And the next thing he knows, Nala screams out and jolts up, awake as she could be and panting rather loudly, a scent of fear and sadness suddenly coming from her. Nala jumps up from his hold and stands in the middle of the pit, trying to get her breath back.

“Are you alright, Nala?” He asks.

“Yeah, I guess I had a nightmare.” She laughs, hiding her previously normal hell at night. When she calms down, Nala sits beside Dhyot’te’ka and grabs a pillow to snuggle up to. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.” He laughs and also rests with a pillow behind him, he raises his arms behind his head and a sudden but wonderful flood of chocolate fills her nose, making her smile.

“I have come to know more about you as these days ware on. And what I don’t understand is your fascination with me.” She says bluntly, but Dhyot’te’ka doesn’t budge. “You are a ‘merciless Ooman hunter’, one with so many skulls that you have more in storage then you can possibly display in your lifetime. You have spent more time on my world than you have on your own hunting and learning. But why do you like me?” Nala asks. Dhyot’te’ka sighs loudly and closes his eyes, he knew this was coming and is a little shocked that does not know the answer already.

“For Yautja, it is the extraordinary, the astonishing, even the strange that attracts us to a potential mate. When a male has an exorbitant amount kills, his is looked upon as distinctive to others. For females it can be something as pointless as physical features. Granted a female with wide hips attracts all males, that showing great possibility to bare pups. But it is the uniqueness that attracts males to females.”

“Oh.” Nala squeaks.

“And I don’t think I will ever again know anyone as unique, extraordinary and strange as you.” He laughs and finally looks to her, an odd smile on her even odder lips.

“I think it is time for us to sleep.” She says and gets up.

“Do you not wish to stay here? With me?” Dhyot’te’ka asks coolly, but still makes Nala pause. She does want to leave, she wants to go to Dhm'Ni. She had her nightmare and definitely does not want to have it again. But what does that show? Well, nothing…right?

“I am just used to sleeping in a bed, not a bed of pillows.” She laughs and they stand to leave. Dhyot’te’ka knows that what she had said was not really why. As he follows up the steps, he can’t decide whether to congratulate Dhm'Ni for having her favor, or try to beat him to show Nala that he is the better mate. But Dhyot’te’ka soon shakes his head of those thoughts because it was not a good things for a hunter to be wrapped up in getting a mate at this time. He needs to concentrate on impressing the Elders and Patriarch when they arrive. But not nearly as much as she does. The two stand in silence as the lift comes and he waits for it to drop her off before him. As the doors opens to her deck, Nala steps out and turns around to him. “Good night Dhyot’te’ka.”

“Good night.” He smiles and the door closes.

Nala sighs as she turns down the long row of doors. She is actually a little nervous to go into her room, knowing that Dhm'Ni had left her with Dhyot’te’ka. It is not that she is angry, or even sad that he just left her. But she is worried. Nala can’t help but wonder what Dhm'Ni had been thinking when she fell asleep on Dhyot’te’ka, she didn’t want to but it happened. She wants to fall asleep with Dhm’Ni. When Nala reaches the door, she is fast in opening and closing it, not wanting the light to wake him if he is asleep. But as she walks in, she can tell he is awake. Silently she takes off most of her cloths, not caring if she wasn’t meant to wear her underwear and Alsn in bed, and climbs in.

“Why do you not stay with him?” Dhm'Ni asks, trying to sound calm but failing. Nala just sighs and slides under one of his arms laying on her stomach next to him.

“He isn’t you.” She yawns. Dhm'Ni can’t help but smile, seems Dhyot’te’ka doesn’t have the bond they do. He inches closer, his arm holding her tight. “Goodnight.” She says and he grunts.

“” “” “” “”

With precious few days left and Nala feeling better then ever, Sya starts her on a daily training schedule that quickly lost its charm. While she understands the need to, exerting oneself to the point of delirium is unwise. So no matter how he tries, Sya can’t get her to budge when she absolutely refuses to train or spar. Nala did know that if the Patriarch was to say that she cannot be in the Ehre Clan, or even in the Yautja, his judgment would either be accepted or someone would challenge him to overrule his decision. And she also knows that if it ever comes to that, she would never allow someone else fight him. This started because of her, and it will end with her. Whether it is her falling asleep that night in Dhm’Nis arms, or being paid last respects, she will do it herself.

Everyone is on their last nerve as they are getting closer to the meeting point, the view screen already showing Nala the other ship heading towards them. It is by no means as large as the one she is on, it may even be able to fit within it but that is not recommended. Even Lord Khupiee seemed on edge as they got closer and closer, but no one would ever comment on that, keeping ones life is more important then noting someone’s state. It seemed that everyday Nala woke up something needed to be done. Polish and shine her Awu’asa, train, sharpen her weapons, read up on laws and rules…So much for one day that will decide her fate.

“” “” “” “”

It is the day before they were to arrive and Nala has decided to look at her weapons again. When she enters the judgment room on the other ship, she must only wear a white robe and carry no weapons, but Nala isn’t one to really listen. She knows that if she brings Yautja weapons they would be able to tell, but her own would be harder to find. But she also knows not to tell anyone else of her bringing in weapons, which would get her and whoever else knew into trouble. But tonight she has time to herself. Dhm'Ni seemed to be training as hard as every other Yautja, giving her time to do what ever. So as she sits down, her back against the bed, sharpening and polishing her Ooman weapons, Nala is surprised when Dhm'Ni walks in with a rather smug smile on his face.

“What’s with you?” She laughs as he sits down beside her.

“Thr'ik used the same move you used the day you and he first met and won against a Blooded hunter.” Dhm'Ni says flatly, even though he knows Nala can see he desperately wished to laugh but wouldn’t because of his friend.

“I’ll have to congratulate him.” Nala notes, getting back to her task. However, when she takes out a small knife, the blade no longer then five inches, she pauses. The shiny black handle made from volcanic obsidian rock is warm to the touch, as it always is. This little thing is the one weapon from her growing up that survived everything, from the Academy to the time in the army, everything. And now she has it here.

“That is a stunning blade.” Dhm'Ni remarks.

“I have had it since forever.” Nala sighs, twisting the knife in her fingers gracefully. Dhm'Ni shifts and slides out his own memorable knife, the same red one she had ‘borrowed’ when she was first on the DropShip.

“I have also had this…since forever.” He laughs, finding her words rather funny. “It is the only thing I have of growing into an adult. I kept no other items.”

“Me neither. I guess I found it easier to deal with only a small bit of my childhood.” She sighs. “However, I think it has less and less significance as I age, I don’t see a reason to keep it.” Dhm'Ni moves a little closer and positions it so both knifes are side by side, nearly the same length and size.

“Trade?” He blurts.

“Trade?” Nala asks, looking up to him.

“I am only keeping this to keep it. And same with you and ours. We trade, they become significant so they do not become useless. Giving us a reason to keep them.” So without hesitation Nala gently grabs his knife and he grabs hers. With a nod to one another, making the trade official, each place the knifes into there proper place.

“Trade.” She smiles. Dhm'Ni nods and stands up, walking towards the bathroom.

“Why are you messing with your weapons when you know you are not allowed to carry then during your judgment?” He asks.

“They needed attention.” Nala says, gaining no response. While he is in the bath, she makes sure to plan everything out for the next day. She will wake rather early at the ninth hour, Nala still not really knowing how she’s going to do that, and then she must eat, bathe and ready herself before she is to go to Sya. There she will change into the white robe, meant to symbolize being new into a clan. But she has time between the changes and when she must walk before the Elders and in that time she will run back into her room and use Alsn to skillfully wrap it around her body so her weapons are hidden. And then she will wish over and over that she is not caught. But Nala never goes anywhere without some kind of weapon and she just knows that being in that room with those Elders may get rather heated and weapons may be needed. As for whether or not that ‘heat’ is created because of her having weapons in the first place remains to be seen. By the time Dhm'Ni gets out, cleaned and dressed for bed, Nala is already asleep. He glides in and up to her, resting his head on her belly. His was his favorite place to sleep now, the odd rumbling and sound from her innards were rather soothing un an odd and weird way. But Dhm'Ni doesn’t care and wraps an arm around her waist, making sure that he will be able to hear her until they must wake.

“” “” “” “”

When Nala wakes Dhm'Ni is gone. And when she looks at the time reader she growls as she sees that it is the ninth and it is time to get up and ready. So after a peaceful bath, she dresses in a shirt with small metal plates to guard her stomach and a knee length loincloth. And of course her custom metal sandals that she will never, ever hear the end of from Thr'ik. But still half asleep, Nala enters the galley with her eyes closed. She knows where to go and no one dares sit in her seat. Since her first time ever being in the galley she has sat in the same spot every time she ever came, and that table was now the ‘it’ table as some of the most popular hunters on the ship seemed to have gravitated over. Nala yawns very loudly as she gets to her table, a few odd looks going her way that she didn’t see, as she sits down. She groans and leans down, her head landing on the table. She has to wonder for a moment why in the blue hell she had to get up so bloody early. It’s not like her judgment was in the morning. No, it has to be later. It was as if they knew that the later the time the more nervous she gets. Shaking her head against the cool table, Nala stretches her arms out, arching her back and yawning.

“Nalani.” She hears Dhm'Ni call her.

“Yeah…” She yawns.

“NALA!” He barks and she lifts her head to look at him, but he wasn’t there. Dhm'Ni always sits directly across from her, but today it wasn’t him. A large male with rather odd looking skin is staring at her, his head cocked to one side and an eye brow raised in wonder. Nala looks around and sees that nearly everyone at the table is someone she doesn’t know and inwardly kicks herself. The ship has already docked and the numbers of hunters were mingling. But not only that, she has already made a grave mistake in Yautja etiquette. Standing rather abruptly, Nala is instantly awake as she steps away from her own chair.

“May I join you?” Nala asks appropriately. Even if this is ‘her’ spot and ‘her’ table, there are Yautja she does not know and so manners are needed. The male sitting to her left motions for her to sit and she thanks him as she does so. The one to her right was strange to her eyes, even more so then when she first met Dhm'Ni. Rather small and petit, this Yautja seems weak and even fragile. His skin seems to simply be holding onto his bones with no muscle between them. But Nala also sees that he is an Unblood, with her guessing that perhaps he is one in training and has simply not gained his stature yet. “Sorry for barging in.” She smiles.

“That is alright, Ooman.” An old looking hunter hisses from her right, making a rather rude emphasis on ‘Ooman’. Nala straightens her back and her face turns to stone as she turns to him, her eyes half lidded in sleep and anger.

“Call me Ooman like that again and you will be the second life I take in this room.” She informs strongly and yet not aggressively. The old male just stares blankly at her and then all of the sudden a smile breaks out.

“I know you told me not to but I just had to see what her reaction would be!” He trills in laughter.

“Jht you are always pissing off the wrong females.” Dhm'Ni laughs, slapping Jht on the back as they are sitting together.

“And Nalani is not a female to piss of because first off, she does not like being called Ooman in that manner. Secondly she is not one to even be around when she does not get enough sleep. And thirdly, she is rather testy when she has not eaten.” Thr'ik laughs, pushing down all the food he can between words.

“You ass is a grand testament to that!” Nala remarks and orders her own breakfast.

“The stories these hunters have told to us make us wonder.” Another male says, his voice slow.

“Wonder about what? And what stories have they been telling?” Nala wonders herself.

“Dhm'Ni was just informing us of your collection of bindings for hair, that you take them as trophies when you fight.”

“Yes well, they are small, personal and,” Nala doesn’t get a chance to finish when the small male beside her suddenly leans in into her neck and with his long, slender tongue he licks her. But not just her neck, he glides from the bottom all the way to the top of her unguarded Hard Meat scar, enticing a very loud scream of pain. Nala instantly elbows the male away, his light body flying onto the floor. She stands and leans back, breathing through her pain as it seems like lava is flowing through her veins, coursing through her body. Growling deep in her throat, Nala bends over the table to steady herself before she moves her hair to one side, keeping it from making her pain worse. Slowly she turns her head towards the male that licked her and she sees Jht by his side, laughing almost right in his face and Dhm'Ni getting to her side. So just as Nala grabs the small knife she traded Dhm'Ni for from a hidden spot, he grabs her as she starts for him.

“Stop Nala, you cannot do this now!” Dhm'Ni growl into her ear, holding her by her arms.

“That pauk-de licked me! He’s going to lose something!” Nala yells and the male that was laying on the ground scrambles up and starts to run away. She kick the chair and curses, roughly ripping herself away from Dhm'Ni, he just laughs. “What a great way to wake up!” She huffs and sits back down, most at the table just looking at her with amusement plastered on their face.

“” “” “” “”

The cold metal of her Ooman weapons still making her cringe a little, Nala is standing in front of large doors with intricately carved images of fighting Yautja all around it. The white robe is rather soft to her skin covering her from her neck all the way to her toes, it seemingly making her more comfortable then she should be standing alone. Everyone else is already inside. Granted almost everyone wants to witness her judgment but with the small room they allowed only those they wished. And more then a few who are watching will testify today. Maybe for her or against her, she doesn’t know. What Nala does know is that beyond these doors are the seven Elders of the Ehre Clan and the Patriarch of the males and of the Blooded waiting to see her for the first time. They may have seen video and such of her, but that does not count. When you see someone, you must be able to smell them, to hear them, to sense them. That is seeing someone. And at that moment Nala wishes nothing more then to get her weapons in without someone seeing, smelling or sensing them.

Nala takes a deep, calming breath and makes sure her hair tie is tight, her hair bound into a ponytail but with those few unyielding strands still falling around her face. For a moment she wonders how this has come to be. How long ago did her life restart? How much has she lost? How much has she gained? And now how much more will she lose? She can’t lose this, not now. She can’t have what she has ripped away from her again. She has everything now. She has a real Clan, a family. She has Sya and she has Dhm'Ni and she even has Thr’ik. She can’t live without Thr'ik! Who can live without him? Never mind that, who can live with him? A small, content smile appears but it’s soon killed when the doors suddenly start to move.

Slowly the two large doors open, the crack between them getting larger and larger until it’s open completely. The immensely large room before her momentarily has Nala paralyzed. The colors of black and red, a wide open floor with Yautja writing on it is bare of any life but just beyond that are stands of Yautja, some friends and some not. And just ahead of her are the Elders. Standing just behind their respective chairs and in front of that the long enclosed table, each Elder looks far to her with unreadable features, their faces carved of stone. Taking a last and what feels like a final breath, Nala takes her first few steps in. When she gets far enough, the doors close behind her, signaling her to bow low to the Elders before walking closer. Nala stops at the center of the room and waits for the Elders to sit. But for a moment they don’t and something in Nalas body tightens painfully. They are supposed to sit when she gets to the center, that’s what she was taught. Are they even going to sit down to judge her or have they already? What if they just showed up to say no and then leave without hearing testimony? What if everything has already been taken from her and she didn’t even know it? And then a sudden and thick wave of sadness creeps upon her, Nala trying hard not to let it show in her face.

“What is your name?” A voice echoes from the Elder in the middle. Nala takes a deep breath before answering to calm herself, but in that breath she smells some thing familiar that really calms her down.

“Nalani O’Conner.” She answers loudly, but at her answer even those she knows make a strange face. Sya however is not as stunned as he has more knowledge of Ooman customs.

“You have two names?” The same Elder asks.

“Three. My full name is Nalani Elizabeth O’Conner. “

“Explain.” The one on the far left growls.

“My last name is a surname, a name past on by blood by my father. My middle name is a tribute to my grandmother who bares the same name. My first name was chosen by my mother and father when I was born.” Nala tells, looking the Elder in the eye.

“Odd.” He barks.

“Very.” Nala smiles, but soon wipes it from her face and her head back forwards.

When she hears a collective sigh, Nala sighs herself when she sees the Elders sit in chairs before them. Even from as far as she is, Nala can tell that these Elders are truly Elders. Even Lord Khupiee doesn’t look that old as some of they do. But simply watching the few moments they have done, Nala knows that they are not old in the sense of the world. They are aged, wise, experienced.

“Your teacher tells us that you have been studying a great deal of your history, laws and customs.” The Elder in the middle speaks again, Nala assuming he may even be the high Elder Esa. There is one high Elder in each clan that is the one that is ‘in control’. While he is not truly, he is the face of the clan besides the Clan leader. “It even amazes us the amount he has informed us you have read. Do you have any questions?” Nala can’t help but find a great degree of smugness in that Elders voice, something that angers her.

“No.” She tells.

“No? Really?” Elder Esa barks.

“Well of course I have questions but none are relevant.” Nala says flatly, not wanting to show any emotion.

“And you think you decide what is relevant or not?” The Elder to the Left of Eso growls.

“I think my questions about the punishment to the Yautja who abandoned the Queen on my planet can be saved for a later time.” The Elder raises a brow, but does not say anything more.

“Since you believe you know so much…” Elder Esa continues, still haughty in his words. “Then we shall see just what you truly know.”

For a few hours Nala is grilled repeatedly. Question after question after question. But with Sya as her teacher she knew nearly everything that needed to be know and recited. It even seemed that the Elders needed a moment here and there to think of another question. Some as simple as the reason for the Chiva and then to the harder of the repercussions of joining or aiding a hunt that one was not invited on. But by the end, well…Nala assuming the end because the Elder seemed to be out of questions, they asked one that makes her stop for a moment.

“Why is it law that a Clan Leader of the Ehre Clan cannot mate until they come to the position?” One on the far right asks. Nala tilts her head to the side, not knowing how to answer. So she goes with the reason why.

“While the Ehre Clan is not the smallest, it is not big and so when a prospect of a Clan Leader comes they must be sure that they can serve the Clan well, that means fighting, hunting, protecting, guarding. But also bearing offspring. The law is meant to be sure that the Clan Leader can produce viable hairs to that position without having earlier pups try to take it without cause.” Nala answers, but still unsure of how to continue. But as one of the Elders smile she knows that she needs to tell the rest, even thought it was not part of the question. “However, that law was changed do to unforeseen incidents. So when the two sons of the Ehre Clan reach the Young Blood state they are free to mate as they do not with the previous incident to reoccur.” For some reason it hurt Nala to keep calling what happened to Lord Khupiee and his family an ‘incident’. But she has to.

“We will now go into personal testimony from any who wish to add their insight.” Elder Esa sighs. Nala has to smile as she knows she did alright for the first part, but now she has to hear from everyone and just stand there until they are done. But after each Yautja is done, Nala is allowed to speak about what has been said. Whether it is to thank the speaker, which she must to even if they same bad things, or to rebuttal what has been said.

So for another few hours, Nala stands there and listens to at least a hundred and fifty speakers. From Lord Khupiee to an Unblood she trained with, everyone but Sya. However Nala knows that he is to go last because he is her caretaker and teacher, but just as they are about to call for him, an Elder calls for someone else. When Dyne was called, Nala fights hard to not yell or scream or kill him. It takes everything in her to hold her hands at her sides and not grab a knife from her body, throw it and kill him standing there. Everyone who speaks has to stand to the right of Nala, with Dyne standing just to close for comfort. The words spilling from his mouth are nothing but lies. Dyne spitting that she has already offered herself to him as a mate but when he advanced she would push away. Even going so far as to say her punishment for coming to her at night was uncalled for. Although all through his words one Elder seemed please with Dyne and his pathetic attempt to sully her name. She knows at that moment that he is Elder Ukinda, Dynes father. Sitting two to the left of Elder Esa, Nala starts off a check list in her mind of what to say to Dyne. She hadn’t said any real rebuttals to any who have spoken, not even Pakka as he spoke of not seeing her as strong enough to be in the Yautja. But she thanked him, and that was it. Dyne however is going to get an earful.

“Do you have any words?” Elder Esa speaks to Nala, actually expecting her not to as she has been quiet.

“Yes Elder, I do.” The Elder nods to allow her to continue. “I do not consider relaxing on the beach to tan my skin, which does need sun to stay healthy, an initiation to mate. I do not consider telling a male to get away from me an initiation to mate. I do not consider sleeping in my own bed and having my room broken into and then having a male mark me as one would to a mating female, and then having to beat him unconscious, an initiation to mate. If anything this male beside me needs to read up on what I have and understand the difference between disgust and attraction.” Nala tells calmly, smoothly.

“How dare you!” Both Elder Ukinda and Dyne roar.

“My son would ever do that!” Elder Ukinda hisses.

“I have proof Elder that my room was entered without authorization by me or Dhm'Ni and that I had to fight him to get him off of me. The dent in my wall can show that. But I also have evidence that Dyne marked the back of my neck as he would to a female that wishes to mate with him that Kh’Cho kindly healed for me.”

“You wish for me to be your mate!” Dyne roars loudly, his voice echoing in the large room.

“Must you assume that all female want to mate with you? Do you really think you have even a slight chance of touch me, let alone mate with me after what you have done?” Nala growls, but not looking away from the Elders.

“Many females wish to be my mate.” Dyne smiles. Now Nala slowly turns to him and raises her hand into the air like she was asking a question.

“I don’t.” She rests her hand back down to her side and looks back to the Elders. But as she does, she sees Elder Esa looking to the right and into darkness before he goes back to her.

“You have caused me my son a great deal of embarrassment, Ooman.” Elder Ukinda hisses at her.

“I apologize to you, Elder Ukinda, alone because of the dishonor you son has caused you from his deeds. But I must remind you that it took everything in my power, everything I could think of to keep Lord Khupiee from beating your son to death as he, once again, disobeyed a direct order from him. I had to plead saying that the embarrassment of being hanged upside down naked was enough. And that death only kept him from feeling that humiliation.” Dyne growls at her, his hands ready to swipe at her. But as Nala puffs up her chest, lowers her head and turns to him, her eyes filled with so much anger, Dyne stops growling and turns to the Elders. Nala relaxes and sighs. “Thank you Dyne.” She smiles and he leaves. For a few moments nothing happens. The Elders stare blankly at her.

“Take off your robe.” Elder Esa says coolly. Nalas eyes widen, and so does a smile.

“C’jit.” She whispers with a sly smile and starts to untie it. When the robe is open at the front, Nala lets it fall down her arms and to her feet. All over her body is white Alsn and her weapons. She was meant to be naked under it but she still covered her breasts and hips. The Elders start at her feet and look at every single piece as they are attached to her legs, thighs, ship, stomach, back arms, everywhere.

“No one is allowed to bring weapons into the judgment hall.” Elder Esa hisses.

“Is that so? Nala laughs. “Then why can I smell the scent of Kaines metal work on every Elder? I can recognize the scent.”

“How do you now it is not you that smells of the Awu’asa makers’ crafts?” An Elder asks.

“Because I am only carrying my Ooman weapons.” She points out.

“Why do you carry Ooman crafts when you have shown such displeasure towards them in the past?” Someone asks.

“Granted I have no had the best of times with the Oomans,” She takes a moment to lift her and, showing her scars. “But these weapons were given to me by a teacher and I will never, ever, be unarmed.” Nala had expected them to be furious. But she had seen a few of the Elders actually smile when she pointed out she knew they had weapons, just as she did when they found her to have weapons.

“The last to speak is Sya.” Elder Esa continues and Nala relaxes.

When Sya stands beside her, she feels relaxed. She smiles warmly up to him and Sya smiles to her. When he starts his testimony it is a mix of praise and advice. Protection and correction. Even thought to those listening he would seem like he was nothing but a teacher and caretaker, his words warm her like nothing ever has.

“Do you have any words?” The Elder asks and Nala says she does. She turns to him slowly and speaks in their own personal tongue.

“Vous savez que vous êtes comme un père à moi, la droite ? Comme un papa ?” (You know you are like a father to me, right? Like a dad?) Sya doesn’t answer at first, only looking down at her.

“Vous savez que vous êtes comme une fille à moi, la droite ?” (You know you are like a daughter to me, right?) Nala smiles, even on the verge of tears, and she nods to him.
“Thank you Sya.” She sighs and he walks away.

“Are there any further testimony?” Elder Esa asks and gets to response. “We are done with the first portion of your Judgment Nalani Elizabeth O’Conner. The Elders will now go and discuss and when we return out decision will be told.” With that he and the other Elders stand and leave the room, laving Nala standing in the middle.

“Nalani?” Lord Khupiee growls and walks up to her. “Why are you carrying weapons?” He hisses, but she knows he is trying not to smile or laugh.

“I feel naked without weapons.” She admits. “So how long do you think they will take?” Nala asks as she starts to pace up around Lord Khupiee.

“Not long I bet!” Dyne growls from the crowd. “They couldn’t possible think you should be here with us.” At that Nala stops and looks at him.

“I have given you three chances Dyne. One you took when you tried to advance on me on the beach. Another when you entered my room. And then just now you used your last chance to keep safe when you tried to sully my name before the Elders. You do one more thing, you say one more thing I don’t like I will add your ring to my wall as my first official kill. Do you get me?” She growls and he shuts up. Nala sighs heavily with her stomach twisted in knots. Soon she and Lord Khupiee are accompanied by all the other Arbitrators, Dhm'Ni and even Thr'ik as they come to talk. Most wondering what was said between she and Sya, but they don’t say, Sya just pulls her in for a hug.

“Nothing that changes anything.” Sya laughs.

“I can’t lose this!” Nala nearly yells and starts pacing again, walking back and forth.

“Cannot lose what?” An Arbitrator asks.

“This!” She stops and points to them, and all around the room. “You don’t understand, I have never had this. I have never been to secure in where I am meant to be! I can’t go back to the Oomans, I can’t even think of setting foot on that bloody planet again unless I an hunting, no way! I mean…I have everything here.” She pauses and they start to talk to one another, trying to guess what the Elders will deiced. “I have everything here. I have my friends here, I have my enemies here, I have the ones I care about here…” Nalas eyes unwillingly flick to Dhm'Ni, but he doesn’t see. He is too occupied with Thr'ik as they argue about that’s going to happen. But her small, tiny display is not missed by Lord Khupiee or Sya, who haven’t taken their eyes off her since the beginning. Sya turns to his friend and Lord Khupiee to him. Having a silent conversation, Lord Khupiee raises a brow, indication that perhaps she has devolved something. But Sya shakes his head, assuming that it is only because they has spent so much time together that their bond was just strong…he hoped.

It seemed like forever that they were in there, the Elders hidden away in some room talking. The small group had gotten rather bored with Nala ending up telling the story of her weapons, even talking in Japanese which awed more then a few people. Some even asked to know why she had learned such language and all Nala can saw was she needed it at one time and it hasn’t left her yet, and hoped it never did. She was just about to teach Thr'ik how to play patty-cake when they were informed the Elders were finished, a rock falling in her stomach. Every goes back to there places and Nala redresses in the white robe, standing once again in the middle of the room as the Elders sit back into their chairs.

“We have come to a decision but I have one question before it is said.” Elder Esa sighs. “What will you do if we welcome you fully into the Ehre Clan?” It took but a moment for her to decide.

“Challenge an Unblood that had licked me this morning.” Nala tells flatly.

“And if we do not allow you in?”

“Ask permission of you to challenge him because when a challenge is issued from someone outside a clan, they must have the Elders blessings.” She smiles faintly, wishing that she won’t have to ask permission.

“Nalani Elizabeth O’Conner…” Elder Esa stands and Nala asks herself why she had given him her full name in the first place. “We welcome you.” Nala closes her eyes and smiles, she felt like crying in joy.

“I thank you Elders for,” She doesn’t get to continue.

“No.” A hoarse voice suddenly appears and Nala rips her eyes open to see a lerge male standing to the right of the Elder table. Instantly she knows he is Ras’Lech, the Patriarch. If she had thought the Elders looked old, the he was ancient. Even his tresses seemed old, a few are even missing. His face to weather by time that his eyes looked empty, but she knows that in an instant they are filled with wisdom she could never have. Dresses full in his Awu’asa, Ras’Lech clicks his mandibles together, making Nala see that not only were they carved and chipped, but small spikes are growing out of the bottom of them. “You are not worthy.” He growls as he steps closer to her. Nala just stares blankly at him, so angry that she can’t think. The Patriarch turns his back to her and just as he is about to address the Elders, she speaks.

“You’re not going to take this away from me.” Nala says in a very strong, demanding tone. The patriarch slowly turns around to her, a brow raised in shock.

“What? You think you have earned to be with the Yautja?” He hisses.

“I have earned to no longer be with the Oomans and whether or not you think I have earned to be with this species… I will prove that I disserve to be here, wish the Yautja. I have nothing else but this.” Out of the corner of her eye, Nala can see a lot of Yautja standing, Lord Khupiee holding back Sya from going to her defense. And she is thankful. This is her fight.

“You think you can prove how you disserve to be here?” Ras’Lech laughs, walking right up to her, Nalas head tilted high to look him in the eyes. “I shall make you a deal little one…” He pauses to look into her eyes, seeing her anger and willingness. “You will fight me, you alone, and if you can show me anything…Perhaps my thoughts will waver. Agreed?” He roars the last word.

“Agreed.”

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Authors Note: Sorry for the late update. School, life…blah,blah,blah.

And, I used an internet translation for the French so I sincerely apologize if I got it wrong. But the English translation is in the brackets so I hope you got it!

A special that’s to:

On ff .net: Oak Tree Woman, ben revell, Alix, DreamBean (You read it all in one go? Wow, you’re my hero! Hahaha) and aquamum.

On aff .net: Death God Dist, Kraven, Cara, aquamum, Rhayn and Jen (glad I got you into preds ;) ).

Pronunciations Previous on chapters 3, 4, 6, 9 to 13, 15 to 17, 21, 22 and 23.)

Jht Jet

Esa S Ahh