The Ripple of a Stone

The Ripple of a Stone

Invitation

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.


Stepping onto the bridge of the DropShip, Dhm’Ni who had recently returned from his Kainde Amedha Chiva with great pride of his achievements and of his trophies, entered the large room. It was quite easy to enter the bridge for it had no doors. All doors would do was annoy they many yautja hunters who habitually go in and out of the bridge, it can also be a hassle during a battle, no one wants to mess with a door when someone is trying to shoot you out of space. The moment he placed a foot onto the ground shivers ran up his spine, knowing that his father would not like the news he was sent to give him. The bridge itself was a room with three large tiers (AN: or levels or large stairs, I hope you know what image I’m trying to give you), each tier filled with working yautja, looking over their Gkinmaru. (Sensors on a ship) When he entered they gave him no acknowledgment for his presence, they didn’t have to time to look, they were to busy preparing to land on the Ooman planet. His father, however, stood at the very top of the three tiers, standing just ahead of his large Leaders chair, staring at his men. Dhm’Ni looked to his father, who was turning white from old age, and held such high respect and honor for him. When Dhm’Ni approached him, he bowed his head, as a sign of respect, and his father did the same to him. When they were closed enough, they each placed their right hands onto the other shoulder, giving it a little shake, this being a common greeting for respected males.

“Dhm’Ni my son, tell me, have all the Arbitrators I requested the presence of boarded yet?” His father chirped. The question Dhm’Ni had been anticipating had finally been asked and he knew his father would not approve of his answer.

“No father,” He paused, “only eight have arrived. They have boarded, attended to their accommodations and are now awaiting you in the conference room.” Dhm’Ni didn’t know what to expect, he didn’t even know why they wanted nor needed nine Arbitrators. But it was not his place to ask. When he gave his answer to his father he didn’t expect the reaction that he got.

“Eight?” His fathers face had a look of surprise when he heard there was one missing. It took a lot to amaze him so Dhm’Ni knew that something was wrong. “Who is missing?”

“Chupa, my Lord.”

“Chupa?” He hissed, “It is quite unlike him to be late for a hunt such as this.”

“Yes father, Chupa has recently lost his lifemate and unborn pup during childbirth. He sends his regrets that he will not be able to join the hunt.” Dhm’Ni studies his fathers face as it went from surprise to a little distressed, his top right mandible clicking against his bottom. He knew from the expression that his father held sorrow for Chupa.

“I see, send Chupa my deepest regrets for his loss.” His father purred those words, adding to Dhm’Nis’ speculation as to what was going on. He did know that his father felt for those who have lost a lifemate because he himself lost one, Dhm’Nis’ mother.

“I already have my lord.” His father gives him a small nod. “Father?” The way Dhm’Ni chirped his name showed that he wanted to ask something more, even his mandibles clattered in anticipation to ask another question. He waited for an acknowledgement before continuing with his question, he wouldn’t dare blurt it out. A nod from his father told him to carry on. “Why do we need nine Arbitrators? Are we after Bad Bloods?” His father didn’t answer him, he just turned to the main view screen at stared at nothing. Dhm’Ni knew that you should never push an elder, especially one of his father rank, for an answer. He knew that we would get one in time.

“Hcju!” His father barks the name of one of his men.

“Yes Lord Khupiee?” One of the working Yautja jump up and chirp at the sound of him name.

“How long until we land on the Ooman planet?”

“Within the hour my lord.” He chirps quickly and then sits back down fast on his chair. With his answer, Lord Khupiee turns towards the exit, his long white dreadlocks flowing with his movement. His motions with his head for Dhm’Ni to fallow him and he does contently. Knowing that they were most likely going to the conference room, where the eight attending Arbitrators lingered. Dhm’Ni still did not receive an answer to his question, he did not want to ask again, his father might see him as weak from wanting information so badly. But his curiosity got the best of him, this time.

“Father?”

“Dhm’Ni, due to Chupas’ absence, we are one hunter short. By law we must have ten attending this hunt, the rank for the attending does not matter. So my son, I extend an invitation to you to join us.” Dhm’Nis’ mandibles go slack. He was astonished that his father would invite him on a hunt so early after his Kainde Amedha Chiva. A mere two days had passed from him arriving home and then departing with his father. A lot had happened in those two days though. If Lord Khupiee could have seen his sons face, he would have been proud. His eyes held a hunters lust to kill, to hunt. Dhm’Ni had been on Pyode Amedha hunts before but it had been long sense he had had a good hunt. After his initial shock wore off, he began to contemplate what they were going to hunt. Because they wouldn’t go down there just for some pathetic Oomans, they are not worth eight Arbitrators.

“Are we after Bad Bloods father?” Dhm’Ni thrilled. He had herd of some Bad Bloods becoming honorable trophies to those whole slay them. He had great lust to kill a Bad Blood, it was a Bad Blood who murdered his mother. Being murdered was a dishonorable way to die, there is no honor in the fact that you had died by something other then pray. Non-the-less he still mourned for his mother and will always have hatred for Bad Bloods.

“No,” Lord Khupiee hissed, “we are after something much worse. Something much more difficult to hunt.” Dhm’Ni knew that his father was smiling even though he could not see his face, and he knew exactly what he meant, Kainde Amedha, hard meat.

“But how…we haven’t…there isn’t…” Lord Khupiee let out a hard and angered sign spreading his lower mandibles, telling him to be quiet. They remained silent for the rest of their walk in the empty hallway. The sound of their metal sandals rang against the grates. The floor was then reflected in the shiny black and red lined tiles that decorated all the passage ways in this ship, making them look wider then they really were. Within the red lines that bordered the walls were actual hunting charms, charms said by the first true Elders, Ancients and Arbitrators. Only their clan, the Ehre Clan, had ships with such charms. It was their clans’ connections to the creation of the Arbitrators that gave them the right to adorn their ships this way. When the first Arbitrators were created, it was one of Lord Khupiees’ and Dhm’Nis’ ancestors who had the initial inspiration for them. Back then the Ehre Clan was one of the largest of all Yautja clans, but after the creation, their clan had become some what royalty in the eyes of all Yautja. With their new reputation, mating rights because harder to attain, thus making it hard for their family to mate with just anyone they pleased. Slowly their clans’ numbers fell, but it did not fall so low that it was considered the smallest clan, by no means that close. So every pup born to the Ehre Clan was ‘special’. While it is true that their clan does not have full and complete rule, that was never the question, no one clan could ever rule the Yautja but their clan held the highest respect from all yautja, hunter and Arbitrators alike.

Reaching the end of the long hallway, two guards stood by the door to the conference room where the Arbitrators waited. They bowed their heads to Lord Khupiee and Dhm’Ni before opening the large red doors. Inside, the room was basically bare, for exception of one large rectangular table that seated twelve, five on either side and one at each end. The large room had walls of bright red, with long tapestries that hung from the ceiling, depicting past clan leaders in fighting stances. The floors were a polished black, shining so well that you could see your reflection.

“My comrades!” Lord Khupiee thrills at seeing his old friends, and they do the same at the sight of him. Clattering the mandibles and nodding to him. Both Lord Khupiee and Dhm’Ni stop at the base of the long table and nod their heads in respect. “Tell me, what trophies have your hunts presented you?” Lord Khupiee walks to the top of the table where his seat was begging him to rest. Dhm’Ni, being the second of Lord Khupiees only two offspring, sat to his right. Many seasons ago Lord Khupiee went on an Ooman hunt, expecting it to like any other. But during the sport he was severely injured, which resulted in him becoming sterile. He only produced two heirs before he was wounded, Det-Onda’Ni his oldest, and Dhm’Ni his youngest. He still maintained his harem females though, he did not lose the ability to please them, just that he could never again produce children. His reputation for how he ‘dealt’ with his females was legendary, he was known for how well he pleased his females that numbered in the hundreds. All the males had an immense respect for him because their females can get a little rough.

“Hunts have provided us with many honorable trophies,” The Arbitrator Pakka, who sat to Lord Khupiees’ left, answered him. He gained the right to sit to the left of Lord Khupiee because of two things: one, he was one of the oldest, most experienced, and highly respected of all the Arbitrators, and two, he was Lord Khupiees’ younger brother. “I myself have just retuned from a successful Pyode Amedha hunt. I found it quite amusing and invigorating. The Oomans have made great strides in weaponry, but still nothing close to us. It only makes the hunt more enjoyable.” A few loud thrills of laughter came from the others as they heard Pakka talk of the Oomans. He had great distain for Oomans and was always quick to put them down.

“Now then, down to the business of the day.” Now seated, Lord Khupiee tapped a small panel with one of his large taloned fingers, which dimmed the lights in the room. “Tell me, has anyone located Shn’Di’Ka’Cha?” Their blank faces answered his question. “We must find him!” Lord Khupiee hisses. Dhm’Ni still did not know what was going on, he was beginning to get frustrated with the fact he was the only one who had no clue.


“Father, what is going on?” He asks gently, so not to be disrespectful. Lord Khupiee looks to Pakka and motions with a hand for him to tell his son. With a short thrill Pakka begins.

“Tell me young one,” Pakka pauses after calling Dhm’Ni ‘young one’. From an early age he hated being called that. Pakka only continued because he was his blood uncle, and because he knew it rubbed him the wrong way. Dhm’Ni taps mandibles in frustration and glairs at his uncle. “What is the one rule upon completing a Kainde Amedha Chiva?” Dhm’Ni was quick to answer.

“On a hard meat hunt it is criminal to leave even a single prey behind…” He looks first to his father, than back to Pakka, “What has happened?”

“Ahhhh…quite right young one. And if one was to leave even a single pray behind they would be considered a Bad Blood. But what do you suppose would happen if one was to came back and claim a successful hunt and that there were no remaining pray but in true fact there were pray left behind, a Queen.” Pakka watched as Dhm’Nis’ face begin to change as the idea leached into his mind.

“The dishonor…the appalling idea of that sickens me…who…who would do such a thing?” Dhm’Ni roared.

“Well young one, many seasons ago a un-blood went on his Chiva, and came back claiming that he was a lone survivor. His name was Shn’Di’Ka’Cha, son of the Honored Jein’Ka’Cha. But when he did return, he held few trophies and did not carry the head of the queen. We questioned him but he explained that the trophy of its defeat was destroyed by one of his fellow un-bloods plasma cannon. We did not question him further. But we should have.” Dhm’Ni mind could barley wrap around this situation. His mandibles clicked wildly with anger and speculation. ”It turned out that neither Shn’Di’Ka’Cha, or his fellow un-bloods, killed the queen. “ Dhm’Ni didn’t know how to react, anger and disgust for this Shn’Di’Ka’Cha boiled in his blood. His skin crawled with the idea that one of his own would claim Nain-desintye-de, a pure win, when they left behind a hard meat queen.

“How is it possible that we did not detect the queen when we arrived for Shn’Di’Ka’Cha? Would we not have seen it?” Dhm’Ni couldn’t understand that his ships sensors couldn’t pick up the queen. They have specific sensors that are meant to detect queens, they should have been able to find this one.

“The queen hid.” Pakka hisses. He found it utterly pathetic that a hard meat queen would hide.

“HID?”

“I found that strange too Dhm’Ni, it hid in a dormant volcano that was on a small island in the Southern Hemisphere, it went deep underground. Even if we were looking we would not have found it.”

“Than how have we seen it now?”

“We have come along way sense then, we have more powerful sensors to pick up hard meat and one of our scout ships had recently replaced that particular Ooman planets sensor. And it seemed that the Oomans did some exploring.” Pakka said in a smug voice, he was astonished at the idea that Oomans could do anything but fight and mate. “They had dug into the very spot where the queen hid. When they entered, there were very few if any drones inside. The queen must have known that to many drones in such a small place could cause a problem and that the fewer of them there were the longer they would survive and the better chance they had at getting out. And they did. When the Oomans opened the cavern, they escaped and quickly multiplied, soon covering the island. Killing all but ten Oomans”

“Five…” Bakuub, another Arbitrator, corrected Pakka. “There are five remaining Oomans Pakka.”

With a thrill, Pakka adds, “They will not survive. They are too weak, too stupid to do anything that would help them. Their Oomans, they are good from nothing but breeding hard meat.”

“I would not be so sure Pakka…” Another Arbitrator, Sya, who sits at the opposite end of the table, directly across from Lord Khupiee, couldn’t help but stop Pakka in his rant about Oomans. Sya was second in command. He had been at Lord Khupiees side from when they were pups. Through all of the fights, tournaments, their Chiva…they were always together.

“What do you know of this Sya? You have not been on an Ooman hunt in years.” Pakka thrills with a small laugh.

“I know… I have a great respect for Oomans Pakka.”

“Too much respect Sya, we know of the mercy shown to you many seasons ago, but that does not give you grounds for your fascination with the Oomans. You go one your little ‘expeditions’ to Ooman worlds to observe their ways. It’s abnormal, your captivation for their species…”

“Is none of your concern Pakka!” Sya roars, his mandible wide spread, showing Pakka just how angry he was with him. Pakka is Syas’ subordinate, his age over shadows Pakka by many seasons. And Syas’ rage and fury is known thought-out the entire Yautja universe. He immediately bowed his head submissively to him. He did not want to cause trouble on the eave of a great hunt. When they returned, then he will take action. “You know nothing of mercy. It is something that must be cherished, for it is hard to come by. So when the day comes that one may give you mercy, take it, it will be the honorable thing to do.” Pakka scuffs at this.

“An Ooman giving you mercy does not make them your equal, it only means they are to stupid to know to kill you.” Pakka slams his fist onto the table, causing their flasks of water to shake wildly.

“Ki'dte” Lord Khupiee finally interrupts their bickering. “We do not have time for this! We will be landing within the hour. We must examine the Ui'stbi, the terrain, so we know our surroundings.” Lord Khupiee raises a taloned hand and begins to punch a code in on the panel that rested just beyond his hand. In the centre of the table, the small eye of the hologram projector rises and begins to project an image of the Earth. “There! In the Southwestern region of the planet is a small group of islands.” The Projection zooms in, closer to show the sequence of islands. “At the North Western tip of the islands is where the Queen lays.” It again zooms in, into the small island, “The island is secluded enough that the small number of Kainde Amedha cannot migrate to the surrounding islands. Here,” Zooming in once again, the projection shows the cavern that the Queen is still hiding in. “here is where the Queen hides.” Lord Khupiees clicks, his mandibles clattered in anger at the thought of a Kainde Amedha Queen being so pathetic, hiding, such stupidity.

“She still lies there, despite the fact that she is free?” Dhm’Ni couldn’t understand why a Queen, who was liberated from a make-shift prison, did not immediately leave.

“We wondered about that too Dhm’Ni. What are your thoughts as to why she has not moved?” Lord Khupiee already knew why the queen was stationary. He wanted to see if his son could deduce her reasoning.

“She…she must be hurt, or injured. To weak to move and get out. Odd for a queen.” Dhm’Ni had great respect for Kainde Amedha, and was shocked at the fact the queen had not died already.

“Correct my son.” Lord Khupiee thrills, he was proud that his son figured it out so early. It took some of the Arbitrators more time than him to guess. Pressing another button on the panel, it zooms out, than in, focusing onto where the five Oomans had barricaded themselves. When they first got the signal that there was a Queen on this planet, there were hundreds of Oomans that surrounded her. They found it quite odd that there were less than fifty hard meats, excluding the Queen, which roamed the now infested island. But when they were chattering earlier, they realized that the queen was most likely drained of energy and of strength and needed food more than drones or warriors. “Here is where the Oomans have settled. Three levels down, in the ground of a building. The building rests at the north tip of a compound that we assume the Oomans were using as a training ground. The in centre of the complex is a very large circle that is oddly marked with circles and squares and equipment. Many buildings surround this training circle and the five Oomans hid in one of them. We watched them as the made they way down to the room. Initially there were six running, but of the three drones chasing them, one got a hold of an Ooman and took it down. The two that chased the others deeper into the building managed to fallow them into where they are now. For a moment they were alive, pacing and scratching at the door that separated them from the Oomans, but within a minute there life signs ceased. Seems the Oomans do have greater technology, hmm Pakka?” Lord Khupiee looks to his younger brother with a smile. Pakka only scoffed at this. He did not care that the Oomans killed two hard meats. They were still nothing but pray.

“Do you suppose that the Oomans even know they have killed two hard meats?” Miy’Hota spoke. He is the youngest of all the Arbitrators, but is still as ruthless in his judgment as any other. “They walk in the room as if nothing is disturbing them. They walk safely, unworried.” Miy’Hota stops, clicking his mandibles is frustration. For a moment there was silence, they watched as the small red dots conversed with one another, then suddenly four of them seemed to gang up on one, than quickly stopped. Soon after they had disbanded and each went there separate ways.

“Had anyone else notice that they are clinging to the walls?” Dhm’Ni clicks questionably. They all did but none had a theory as to why. Lord Khupiee knew that his son would most likely come up with something. Sense he was a child Dhm’Ni was always able to see all angles, all possibilities to a hunt or life challenge. Always finding another way, always solving mysteries, always seeing the ‘what ifs’ and imagining all out comes to recommend actions to himself. “My guess is they are arming themselves. Gathering weapons, armor, anything that would ‘help’ them.” Lord Khupiees expectations of his son were correct, and he was amazed at his presumption as to why the Oomans were acting in such a way. “This means that they intend to leave their area that the fled too. This could cause a problem when we arrive.” Dhm’Ni looks to his father and is caught off guard when he sees his is staring right back at him. Lord Khupiee was blown away at his sons’ knowledge, he was so proud at that moment, but could never show it openly.

“It is a possibility.” Lord Khupiee clicks. “None-the-less we must get down to the planet and clean this mess. Clean Shn’Di’Ka’Cha’s mess. AND FIND HIM!” Lord Khupiee roars, his over grown bottom mandibles click against themselves in frustration that someone of his clan would do such a thing. “Do we know of his last location Dh’Kn?” Dh’Kn was the second youngest Arbitrator and the younger brother to Sya. He had been given the responsibility to find Shn’Di’Ka’Cha.

“No my lord, we have not been able to find him. At first, when he had completed his Chiva, we found it odd that he did not immediately take a mate, or chose his path. But now I see why. He knew one day we would see what he had done and take the proper actions to bring him to justice. So he ran away. Pauk-de pathetic.” Dh’Kn was a member of the Ehre Clan, and felt the dishonor that this will cause to be very alarming. The anger he held for Shn’Di’Ka’Cha showed in his face and with his mandibles. If he were to get his claws on him he would tare off each of his mandibles and make him eat them one by one. Lord Khupiee lets a short thrill of laugher leave him before he spoke.

“Come now, we will be landing with in the hour.” Lord Khupiee stands up, readying himself to leave. When he does stand, Dhm’Ni and the Arbitrators stand as well, as a sign of respect. “Assemble your Awu'asa, gather you weapons for as soon as we land we will leave to ride our clan of this disgrace before it goes any further.” With that he begins to walk from the table, walking past his son. Until that moment, Dhm’Ni never really saw just how tall his father was, figuratively and literally. His father stood at a tall 9’8, taller than all the Yautja in the room, towering over all he knew. And at that moment Dhm’Nis’ respect for him was inflamed at seeing how his father was such a great leader of his clan, it was astonishing. The sound of the doors sealing was a signal for Pakka to begun his onslaught of torture to his nephew.

“So Dhm’Ni…” Pakka clicks. After Lord Khupiee exited the room, most of the Arbitrators and also left, leaving Pakka, Sya and Dh’Kn to speak with Dhm’Ni. “I heard you had quite a successful Chiva” Sya and Dh’Kn move closer to the two, they had a little time to waste before landing and they had many questions to ask Dhm’Ni.

“Indeed it was uncle. It was the first in this century that all un-bloods came back victorious. There were injuries of course but none to severe. “

“I herd that as well Dhm’Ni, I am impressed. But I also heard that you decided to use you body as a blood bank for the hard meat. Let me see your scar….” Sya joined in the conversation, but it was not his Chiva that we wanted to know about. He had hidden intentions to find out about Dhm’Nis’ time between arriving back on the clan ship and then leaving with his father. Dhm’Ni graciously turns his back to Sya and lifts up one of his back plates to reveal a large tear drop shaped scar caused by the blood of the herd meat splashing onto his body. “It is fine-looking scar indeed.”

“We all took many trophies to hang, I myself took only 4. The rest were too easy. Three drones and one warrior. There skulls are striking on my wall.” Dhm’Ni was so proud of his trophies, he had brought them on board the drop ship and every night he goes to sleep looking at his achievement.

“I did not see the queens’ head though…” Pakka did wonder about the absence of this trophy, but he also wanted to know that same thing that Sya wished to know.

“Her skull was badly damaged when we took her. No one hunter could really claim her skull, so we each took a small trinket.” Dhm’Ni lifts his left arm to reveal his belt of skulls, and one large inner mouth to the queen. “I dealt the killing blow, so I claimed her inner mouth as mine. She died faster then you could say Thei-de.”

“It seems Paya was watching you. Leaving Cetanu to wait for the next Chiva,” Dh’Kn thrilled loudly. “Take this as a blessing Dhm’Ni, you have Payas’ favor, but that also means that Cetanu will always be at you heal.” They throw their heads back and thrill of laughter.

“What have the spoils brought to you?” Dhm’Ni knew what Pakka was asking, he wanted to know why Dhm’Ni didn’t take a mate the night he got back. He did have two days and in that time he did not take a female. He had asked a female, Ferca, but she denied him. Here the females are law, despite what the Arbitrators may say, they all have a female behind them giving them the evil eye. Ferca was one of the most celebrated females of his clan. She had gone on a few hunts, gaining recognition and honor. She was sought after by many males but mated with few. Only Semo, Nder and Aru have claimed to have mated with her but she did not acknowledge that they had done anything. And when Dhm’Ni began to show interest in her, she adamantly denied him. But she did more than that, she had disrespect him when she refused him. The words she said should never be repeated. However, that very night she said no, word was spread of Dhm’Nis’ Chiva and of his trophies. When he decided to retire to his room after a long night of C’ntlip and stories, he walked into his room to see Ferca. She tired to seduce him but all of his lust for her left the moment she began to sully his name right in his face. He immediately sent her out of his room, leaving her unsatisfied and furious.

“Yes Dhm’Ni, what spoils? For I have heard of you denying a female…do you really think you deserve to pick and choose?” Sya was only playing, he knew that Dhm’Ni must choose his mates very carefully, but when he heard just who it was that Dhm’Ni denied…he was astonished.

“Denying a female? What wench chose you for a mate?” Dh’Kn began to thrill in laughter but soon stopped when he saw only him and Pakka were laughing. “What?”

“Be careful who you choose to call a wench Dh’Kn, you never really know who it could be…” Sya clicked in a smug tone. He knew that it was one of Dh’Kns’ daughters that Dhm’Ni denied. He just wanted to wait for Dhm’Ni to tell him.

“WHAT?” Dh’Kn roars. Dhm’Ni looks over to Sya, he knew that Sya knew who the female was. And was waiting for Dh’Kns’ reaction.

“Ferca…” Dhm’Ni finally admits. “I said no to Ferca.” Dh’Kns’ face went blank. It was his daughter, his daughter! He couldn’t even imagine someone saying no to her, she was the ultimate female, strong, beautiful, honorable and aggressive. She has even gone on hunts with other males and come back with more trophies then them. How could Dhm’Ni deny her?

“…why…” Dh’Kn and Pakka were stunned. Dh’Kn must have lost his breath because he suddenly took a deep breath in like someone had just strangled him.

“I lost my lust for her…that’s all I am going to say…”

“What do you meant that’s all you are going to say! We need an explanation!” Pakka chirped.

“Nooo….you want an explanation…you don’t need an explanation.”

“Come on Dhm’Ni, tell us!” Dh’Kn asks.

“I just…I asked her when I arrived home, she said no. That night I came home from the celebration and she was in my room. She had said something’s that I would prefer not to say again and I kicked her out.”

“Why would she come back to you after she denied you?” Pakka asks.

“She had said that when her herd of how successful my hunt was, she saw me in a different light. But after what she said I saw nothing in her.”

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT DHM’NI? That’s how it works. We go to a hunt, we kill, we bring trophies, we attracted females, we mate, they get pregnant and we live on. How can you say no to that?” Dh’Kn thrills. He was in between anger and laugher when he spoke, he was mad that his daughter was stupid enough to say something that would put off Dhm’Ni and that Dhm’Ni denied her... but it was funny Dhm’Ni didn’t take her right then and there when she was in his room. The others could tell from Dhm’Nis lack of mating scars that he did nothing with her, so they could only believe him and let it go.

“You will have to excuse me,” Dhm’Ni stood from the table and began to walk towards to the large doors, “I need to get ready for the hunt, as well as all of you.” Dhm’Ni boosted. “We have a little less then a half hour to get ready.” With that Dhm’Ni exited the room, leaving a few stunned Arbitrators with their mandibles hanging.

(~)(~)(~)(~)

Content that he left them stunned Dhm’Ni marched down the long hallway to his temporary dwelling. Currently they were on an Imperil DropShip, it was three times the size of the usual DropShip that most other yautja clans had. Dhm’Ni hated his room. It was less than half the size of his room on the clan ship. His sandals kept making a loud clunk at every step. He didn’t mind it, but he didn’t like how it made every other yautja look at who ever was walking. A small group of un-bloods were walking towards Dhm’Ni and immediately dropped their heads and hugged the walls to get out of his way. He loved how they did that, now that he was blooded. He used to have to do that to every blooded he saw, but now he was one of them and was proud of the fact that the no longer needed to be inferior to everyone. A small hint of comfort came when he reached his door, he placed his hand on the panel and it slid open revealing his tiny, cramped room. Walking inside he looked at his large bed and can vividly remember Ferca. She wasn’t just in his room when she came, she was on his bed, stark naked and her mating musk reeking up the room. He cringes as he remembers her sent. He can still smell it in his mind like she was standing right in front of him. The door closes behind him and he takes a small step in. To his left is the COM-link that is connected to the ship, the small view screen and panel has a dim light to them, so that you could see it was to dark. A small blue light was flashing, telling him that he had messages. He bet that they were from Thr’ik, his best friend. Thr’ik was with Dhm’Ni on their Chiva, they had been best friends ever sense Dhm’Ni was in a forest on their homeworld and was attacked by a Mukken, a large beast that roamed their planet and Thr’ik help him kill it. Dhm’Ni didn’t really want to hear of his new ‘conquests’ of the females, he was anticipating mating enough as it is let alone Thr’ik rubbing it in his face. It takes only a few giant steps from the door to get to the bed. To the left was the small trophy room that housed his four skulls. To the right was the small but quaint bathroom, inside were all the amenities that one would expect but for a large pedestal basin that sat right in the middle of the room. This was the Usipa, a basin that is used in the ritual of cleansing your body of a prays blood after a hunt. Even if one was cleaned of all blood after a hunt, like if they went to the healers, they must still cleanse themselves with the Usipa water. Inside the bathroom was also a small closet that held fresh linins for the bed and large towels. Having a clean body is just as important as having a clean soul. That was his room in its entirety. On the clan ship, his residence had many rooms, including a living area, a meditation room, a much, much larger bathroom and even an undersized eating area. Here thought there was nothing but a bed. Everyone on the ship had to eat at the galley, and converse in the one of the many society rooms which were meant for celebrations with stories and a lot of C’ntlip. A small smirk began to form with his mandibles as he remembers the many times he and Thr’ik drank to much C’ntlip and kept waking up in places they didn’t know. He walks towards his Awu’asa that hung from its stand and begins to assemble it, careful not to irritate the scar from the hard meat blood on his back. The scar would forever be sensitive to touch, the nerves now exposed can be a great disadvantage to a hunter. The slightest touch can cause you to convulse in pain, so he had a special piece of armor made to cover the area. The rest of his Awu’asa was plain compared to the others. They tended to have intricate cuts and groves, even design came into play for some hunters. But for Dhm’Ni the hunt is not a place to be vain and have an Awu’asa that was elaborate. His fashion of his Awu’asa being natural continued in his mask. It only had the needed equipment for breathing and seeing, it had no clear design but for his blooding mark. Two upside down triangles that stretched for two inches and had slight curves to the left, sat in the middle of its forehead. He gently ran a taloned finger along the markings, finding that the pride and the honor grew every time he saw them. He turns, placing his mask on and exits his abysmal room.

(~)(~)(~)(~)

“Dhm’Ni there you are! We have been waiting!” Sya says with a hint of humor. “Come and show me your mark Dhm’Ni, I have yet to see it.” Sya motions him to come closer and he does with out hesitation. Sya raises one hand and takes Dhm’Nis’ chin, turning his head from side to side. Normally this would not be tolerated by a Yautja but this was Sya, an Arbitrator and his father best friend and second in command, so he did as he was asked. “Take honor in that mark Dhm’Ni.” He releases his hand and sees Dhm’Ni give a small nod.

“Now who is missing?” Lord Khupiee angrily clicks. He noticed that there were only eight bodies in the docking bay and was still waiting on two. This was a hunters’ bay, a place where those going on a hunt on foot would wait for the DropShip to land. The DropShip however did not stay grounded, it would go back into a low obit and await orders to come back down. That was in a normal case though. For this hunt, for this mess, it would stay cloaked a few hundred meters above ground. While this DropShip was large compared to others, it would have no trouble landing on the outskirts of the Ooman grounds, giving them ample time and space to hunt their pray.

Lord Khupiee was getting restless now, they were landing in moments and two were still not here.

“Inkel and Rathe have yet to arrive.” Pakka answers, he was about to COM-link them when they walked through the door. Rathe was carrying his two legendary five foot long Glaives, except they’re more swords than like a Naginata or Glaive. They are each carried at the end with a leather wrapped handle, and the long blade is elegantly engraved with his clans design. Like most Kainde Amedha weapons it is acid resistant and can handle a good beating. The rest of the Arbitrators, Lord Khupiee and Dhm’Ni wore the customary Awu’asa but for each hunter their armor was tailored to their personal style and needs.

A sudden rattle and shake of the ship told the hunters that they had landed.

“Lord Khupiee?” A shrill voice came over the Com-link which was replied by a low grunt came from Lord Khupiee. “I would like to inform you that to five Oomans that have survived have begun to move.” Another grunt from Lord Khupiee told them he understood. With Inkle and Rathe finally here and now joining the others in conversation, he walks towards the gathered group and gives them the arrangement.

“Now, we will depart in three groups, Pakka, Sya, Dhm’Ni and myself in one. Dh’Kn, Inkle, and Rathe in another. Than M’Ho, Miy’Hota and Bakkub.” As the hunters began to place on their masks Lord Khupiee marches to a panel and bunches in a code. The large docking bay doors began to unbolt, open horizontally from the centre, the top rose to be flush with the ceiling while to bottom fell towards to Ooman planet. A large thump from the ramp hitting the ground signaled them to begin their hunt. Activating their cloaks, the hunters joined their assigned cohorts and entered the think brush.


Pronunciations of the names are lenient. (In order of appearance, from left to right )

Dhm’Ni _ Domni
Chupa_ Chew-pa
Lord Khupiee _ Ku-phie
Hcju _ Hick-Jew
Pakka _ Paka
Bakkub _ Ba-Kub
Sya _ Saya
Shn’Di’Ka’Cha _ Sindy-ca-cha
Dh’Kn _ Dah-Kin
Ehre Clan _ I-Re clan
Ferca _ Fer-Ka
Semo_ Seemo
Nder _ Nedier
Aru _ Ahruu
Thr’ik _ Thirick
Inkle _ en-ke-ill
Rathe _ Ra-thie
M’Ho _ me-ho
Miy’Hota _ My-Hoot-a