Rivers Run Deep

==========================================================

Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of the Predator. whatever you don't recognize, is mine however.




Authors Notes: Full Disclaimer at the begining of the first chapter.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone5

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

==========================================================





Chapter 32



Ver’On was never far from El during the following days. Especially when Lee’tha would insist on going for a walk around the ship. Ter’Oth had asked her to be his mate, finally, and she wanted everyone on the ship to see her new family mark on her right shoulder. The mark was usually an embroidered pattern into the shoulder of the clothes that the female would wear. Instead, when Lee’tha accepted Ter’Oth, she insisted on the mark being permanent. She had him burn the mark into her skin, and she tore the patch of shoulder off all her clothing, and wished to make everyone aware of the fact.


Now that she was officially mated, she was protected from her former bed mates, be them wanted or not. However she was still unwelcome in the Garden area by the other females. Then again, neither was El. So the two would hang around together, journey around the ship, stopping in at the different service areas, clothing, footwear, furnishings; somehow Lee’tha and Ter’Oth broke their bed. “How can you break your bed?” El had asked. “It’s practically a giant dish in the middle of the floor!”


“You’ve never mated to a Yautja before have you?”


“I’ve not mated PERIOD!” El laughed, hearing Ver’On grumble behind them. “I’m sorry Tusk,” she offered gently.


“Well when you do, you will understand.” El had to steady her as she swayed in the doorway of the furnishings room.


“Are you ok?”


“Never better. Just a bit tired.”


“I can’t imagine why?” El giggled. “From the sounds of the rumors around the sparing rooms, I’d say you’d mate yourselves through the bulkhead, if you weren’t on the inside of the ship.”


“Very funny,” and Lee’tha directed them towards the bedding area. After an hour or so examining the different beds, Lee’tha finally turned her attention to some of the infant’s furnishings. El just looked on distantly, as she picked out a fine cradle for her future offspring, commenting how adorable the babies would look in it. At one point El turned to see that Ver’On had actually gone to the other side of the room, and didn’t even look her way as Lee’tha spoke.


El excused herself and went to him, lacing her fingers with his as she came next to him. “Are you ok?” she asked. Ver’On huffed, and turned away as Lee’tha called from the other side of the room, holding up small bedding. “I know,” she said, holding his hand closer to her chest. “I feel it too.”


“No, you don’t understand,” he said, “Uni…and I, used to come here, after she was told that…and we would look at the furniture for infants…”


“You don’t have to tell me,” she eased. “I’ve no idea…even if we did…you know…if I could have a child for you.”


“Oh you will!” Ver’On laughed. “Oomans are the most easy to impregnate by my species.” And he purred into her neck for emphasis. El just stood there, in total shock.


“EL!!!!” The pair turned to the delighted Lee’tha as she hurried across the room to them. “The male here just told me that another ship has been spotted. They’re following us to join us for gathering!!!”


“How would he know?” Ver’On asked.


“His son is on the pilot deck now. He sends messages to his father all the time. His father is very proud of him, and his son is grateful for doing all he had for getting his son to the honored position of pilot.”


“You got all this from him in…what…30 seconds?”


“No silly, I’ve come here before. Come on! There’s a viewing station not far from here. We may be able to see the ship before the rest of the Clan females!!”


“What’s so big about seeing the ship before everybody else?” El asked, as Lee’tha practically dragged her out of the furnishings room.


“It’s a status thing. You feel good about showing up the females in the garden.”


“Where’s that viewing port?”






Lee’tha strolled El and Ver’On by the door to the gardens, just as the females were leaving with their families for evening meal. As though on queue, Lee’tha turned her branded shoulder to the females, as she turned to El, stating excitedly, “My Mate Ter’Oth will be THRILLED with the arrival of the new ship.”


As though someone said they’d sacrifice one of their children all the females turned to Lee’tha. “What ship?” one of them asked, with distain in her voice for having to address Lee’tha at all.


Before Lee’tha could reply, El spoke up. “We don’t have to tell you anything. You’re not part of us. Come on Lee’tha, lets go tell my Kadji, Sol, about our impending guests.” It was as though the females suddenly couldn’t breath, and Ver’On was loving every moment of their torment. Normally the higher ranking females in the gardens were informed of visitors by their mates, who would be informed by the elders. Obviously that hadn’t happened yet. Never had outsider’s, such as these two, ever held any kind of information back from them. The fact that they were gaping after the pair, and some even being held back from going after them, pleased him greatly. Though petty power trips like this were common among the females, he never really took much notice of them, but he did enjoy this one, considering how badly they had treated El in the beginning.






El bid goodnight to her friend, and closed the door. Ver’On joined her as she made her way to the sofa. Her feet were killing her, not to mention her legs, and back. NEVER had she walked so much with one person. “I think I’ll sleep for a year,” she said, as she began to rub her feet. Ver’On grumbled and crouched on the floor before her, grasping her foot in his hands. She didn’t fuss. If he could make her feel as good as she had once, by rubbing her back, her feet were in good hands.


“You walk too abruptly,” he said. “You put your feet down as though you wish to push through the floor at every step.”


“It’s a human thing…OWE!!” He purred at her to apologize, as he placed better pressure on her foot elsewhere. “Oh, that’s better.” She leaned back on the sofa, allowing Ver’On freedom of doing what he wished. It wasn’t long before he’d left her feet, and began rubbing up her legs, pushing the hem of her dress up as he went. She didn’t care, the feeling was delightful.


Her scent, to him, changed. His ministrations had the desired effect. Carefully he slid his hands higher beneath the dress, pressing his thumbs to her sex. Instinctively she parted her legs for him. He was good. Gently he flipped the dress over her hips, tearing through her undergarment, and pressing his fingers to her moist flesh. He loved to look at her, committing every detail of her body to his memory. She moaned as his manipulations continued, his face inching ever closer to her lower region.


It was his outer tusks that touched her first, gently kneading her flesh. His sighs increased to aggressive purrs, as her scent flooded his senses. Gently he thread his tongue passed his teeth, to part her folds, and taste of her sweetness…
Then the door opened, as Sol returned from sparing. He didn’t even greet the pair, as he rushed across the room and tackled Ver’On away from El. She shrieked as his claws racked across the tender flesh of her thighs, as the pair went to the floor. Ver’On came up and growled, loud and deep in his chest. “RITUAL!!” Sol shouted, trying to bring the male back to his senses. “You have not been granted ritual yet!” Ver’On swung at the young blood, he dodged expertly, sending a quick powerful jab of his fist to Ver’On’s chest.


“SOL! STOP!!” El cried, seeing Ver’On turn to attack the younger male. The two seemed not to hear her. “SOL!!” The youngster thudded hard against the wall from his elder’s powerful kick. El ran between them, urging Ver’On to look at her, and not Sol.


“GET AWAY FROM HIM!!” Sol shouted, literally tossing her into the bedroom, and locking the door.


“SOL PLEASE!!” she begged from where she’d landed on the floor, but the repeated growls and scuffles from the other side of the door were all that he’d heard.


A few moments later, the growls & fighting stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the room. Then the door opened, and Sol came over to her. “Are you alright?” he asked of her gently, nursing a broken mandible, and sporting two missing inner teeth.


“I’m fine, Sol. Dear God, why did you have to do that?”


“To protect you, and him. You’ve no idea what shame would fall on you both, should you disobey Kire’Baa.”


“It would be our choice!”


“One made in lust and later regretted. Believe me. I’ve met a few here that made that choice.” He examined her shoulder where she’d connected with the floor, then her arm where he’d grabbed her. “No significant damage,” he said. “You may bruise a little.”


“Where is he Sol?”


“He’s taking a shower, down the hall. Come, you’ll have one too.”


“Is he alright?”


“Bruising, mostly. Minor fights like this are never deadly. Only when you have two males that want you, but want nothing to do with each other.”


“Is he mad at you?”


“No. Before he departed, he tanked me or protecting you.”


“Is he mad at me?”


“I doubt that. You’re young, fertile. You can’t control what your body craves, especially from your own mate. Come now, cleans yourself, send your clothing to be washed, we’ll join Ver’On for some food.”






The common eating area was overly crowded. There wasn’t only Ver’On’s clan there, but also members of the visiting ship. The elders all lined the head table, alternating between, the Kesh’Ma’Hur clan elder, and one of the visiting elders. This way, Sol had told her in passing, the visiting elders were assured the same respect from their clan, while they visited. She remembered what Ver’On had told her about their clan marks, so she looked to a number of the Yautja to see the difference. She found a number of Ver’On’s clan mark, a couple had Sol’s clan mark, whom he had greeted vigorously, making sure that El remained behind him, safe from being scrutinized too closely. Then she noticed the other mark, a semblance of a lightning bolt, with a dash above it. Several times, Sol had to pull her away from staring at the visitors, concerned that they may think she would be challenging them.


El held onto Sol’s hand while they quickly thread his way through the crowd to where they usually sat. There Ver’On waited, though he wasn’t alone. There were four other males at the table, along with two females, all of which had the lightening mark. Sol kept El just behind to his left as he approached the table. He grunted a greeting to the visitors, and shook Ver’On’s shoulder as he passed. El took Ver’On’s hand as he reached for her, and he positioned her behind him, to his right, as Sol stood to his left. One of the males chuckled as he looked her over, then addressed Ver’On. “I didn’t know you kept oomans as pets!” and he laughed even harder, as well as others of the group. She never saw him move, but Ver’On’s hand rested right under the male’s chin, clenching his windpipe tight.


“NEVER speak of my mate like that again!” he whispered dangerously, and let him go.


The male stood back rubbing his neck, but watched as Ver’On thread his arm around the female, and her arms went around him. “My apologies,” he said, as he bowed to the girl. “I was not aware. From the reputation of the Hur family, breeding outside the species was not permitted.”


“Ver’On?” she asked.


“You translator did not work on all of that?”


“Not the last part.”


“Very well, rest assured, he meant no insult, but my family has never taken a mate, who was not Yautja.” She nodded.


“You speak our language very well, for an Ooman,” the male stated.


“She wears a translator. Low frequency counter waves from the ship’s communication system, cancels out her voice tone, and transmits a translated voice to us.” The male just looked at Sol, as he completed his very expert explanation, though with the small splint stitched to his lower right mandible, some of the words sounded a bit slurred, or forced.


He then turned to Ver’On. “He’s knowledgeable.”


“Our Kadji,” Ver’On directed. “Sol, he is in additional technical training. He wishes to design his own weapons. Very ambitious for someone so young.”


“Mmmm, admirable.” He then turned to the female again. “I am Kal’esh, my hunting companions address me as Kal. You may as well if you wish.”


El bowed slightly. “Greetings Kal’esh, however until we are better acquainted, I shall address you by your full name.”


Kal chuckled. “As you wish.” He then sat at Ver’On’s direction, as well as the rest of the gathered individuals, El safely seated between Ver’On and Sol, with Kal on Ver’On’s far left, with a female between them, Zon she was called, Kal’s sister. She was here to find a mate. The rest of the group sat on the other side of the table. They were introduced by Kal as, Bon-ta; Kal’s oldest student, who’d just succeeded his blooding hunt, and now sought a mate. Next to him was Rel’Ben and his mate Vaz, they were interested in conferring with a number of the artisans on the ship, since Vaz was pregnant, and enjoyed things made by the other clans. She over heard Zon say that Vaz was also secretly trying to find a second mate, with Rel’s permission of course. The fourth male, very small in stature, and bearing no clan mark on his skin, was Reo, Rel’s youngest brother. Rel said that he’d lost a challenge with his father, and was faced with escorting the young trouble maker around every where. Vaz whispered across to El, that Their parents were trying for a new baby, but with Reo constantly getting into trouble, or barging into their quarters, it was hard to accomplish that. El just giggled slightly.


She felt strange. She’d never been involved with the females of her ship, other than Lee’tha, and was unsure how to react with Vaz or Zon. But she felt pleased that these females were including her in their conversations. “Tell me…eAl…” Zon began, feeling the way her Ooman name rolled from her mouth. “What fine males are here, looking for mates?”


El had been taking a sip of her water when Zon asked her question, El visually choked, and had to cough to clear her throat before she could answer. Before she spoke, Sol puffed his chest up, and nudged her hip to gain her attention. El smiled and answered. “Well Zon, I don’t pay much attention to other males, other than my mate, and our Kadji, but I do know that Sol here, is looking for a mate of his own.”


“He’s too young,” Zon pouted. “He’s not been blooded for long either.”


“True,” she said, and leaned passed Ver’On to see the female’s face as she continued. “Zon, I’m not sure what the biological factors are for Yautja males, but I do know of humans. The younger the male on my planet, the more fertile he is, and the longer his stamina will last.”


Zon put her hand to her cheek as she gazed back at Sol, honestly pondering El’s words. “Has he mated you?” she asked.


“No,” El replied. “It has been a personal choice for both of us. He wishes to mate with a Yautja for his first time, and I'm only interested in one male of your race.”


Ver’On jumped, as El’s hand slid beneath the codpiece of his armor, gliding over his cloth bottoms. Before he could do anything about it though, Sol pulled her hand away, hiding his actions as he leaned across behind El, to speak to Zon. “As Kadji,” he said, “I see myself in a student role. Should you choose one as young and as virile as I, you would not wish me to be inexperienced or unknowledgeable now would you?” El out right blushed. Why in the world did she start this conversation on this track anyway?


Zon reached across to Sol’s elbow, at El’s back. “Would your mentor and his mate allow you?”


“YES!!” El and Ver’On chimed at the same time. Zon just looked at the pair, as El continued. “Do forgive our eagerness to allow him, but for some humans, it is difficult to remain ready, while you have a critical pair of eyes watching you.”


“Critical?”


“I’m sorry, that didn’t translate well. Let me try again.” She thought for a moment. “The way one looks at you, or observes when they are receiving instructions. Does that help?”


“Oh yes, I totally agree.” Zon patted Sol’s elbow. “You will be with me for gathering?” If Sol could, he’d’ve popped a blood vessel.


“I would be honored.”


“Then it’s settled,” El sighed. “You’ll be Zon’s mate.”


“Oh, not permanently, I want to try him out first. If he has sufficient girth and length, then yes, I will take him as my mate.”


“Would you like to inspect me?” Sol offered, rather nonchalantly also.


“NOT HERE!” El urged, as she kept his hand form moving to his belt. “There are private rooms for that!”


Zon just laughed. “You oomans are so bashful. Ver’On, you really must ensure a thorough mating at gathering, just so she won’t be so shy in the future.”


Ver’On and Sol laughed, but El just looked between the two, as she asked. “What was that? I didn’t get all of it.”


“Not to worry,” Ver’On stated, for both their benefits. “Gathering will be delightful for all of us, and I promised my mate that she would be forever pregnant afterwards.”


“You’ll never get on the hunt then,” laughed Bon-ta.


“VER’ON!” The group turned to the head table as Kire’Baa stood, his booming voice drawing the attention of all in the room. El noticed an older female not far from where Kire was sitting. She surmised it was his mate. “Come! Join us! Leave the Ooman!”


Ver’On growled loudly. “Where I go! My mate will follow!” he stated.


“She’s not your mate yet!!”


The visiting group turned between each other, then back to Ver’On. “At gathering, she will be!”


“Until then she is a useless ornament! COME!! I wish you to meet our guest Elders.”


Ver’On growled loudly, but El gently laced her fingers in his, drawing his attention to her. He could tell she was mad, she had that odd, yet dangerous, look in her eyes, but she held it in check as she spoke softly to him. “Go on Tusk. It’s ok. He’ll reconsider his position once he learns he’ll be an ump-teenth time grandfather.”


“Are you certain?” he asked.


She cocked her finger to him, motioning him to come closer. She whispered in his ear, he looked at her, and smiled, spreading his mandibles wide in his delighted grin. Nodding he went to his grand sire.


“Is what the elder said true?” Zon asked. “You and Ver’On are not known to each other?”


“In the direct way you mean, yes it is true. But watch the elder’s face.”






Ver’On stepped up to his grand sire, low growls through his chest as he passed the old hunter. “You will not bring that thing to the hall again, Ver’On,” the old one said quietly. “You will find a mate of decent lineage, and kill her as you were supposed to.”


“Grand sire, you will never understand the kind of hold I have over her, nor she over me.”


“What hold!?”


“The kind that has her craving my hands to her flesh every night,” he chuckled, and proceeded to politely greet the visiting elders.






The small group watched as Ver’On met with the elders, exchanging quiet words with his elder before greeting the rest of the lines. Zon gasped as she saw what color was in the elder’s features drain away, just as Ver’On stepped away. “What did he say!?” she demanded of El.


El smiled back at the group, pulling her dagger-like yes from the old codger. “He just gave the Elder a message for me.”


“What was it?” Vaz asked eagerly.


“That Ver’On has a wonderful technique, and exquisite hands.” The females could not understand the exact translation of her words, but by the look on her face, it was definitely juicy enough to put the elder right over the edge.


“EL!!!!!!!!!!”


“ – AH!!! – ” El was suddenly tackled to the floor by an extremely excited Lee’tha.


“I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING!!!”


“Let me live, so I can enjoy it as well!” she laughed, as Sol tried to separate the women, after he too nearly went to the floor. The guest males just looked on in shock, while the women giggled amongst themselves.


“I’m sorry, El, I’m sorry. I just have to tell you something extraordinary!”


“Ok, there’s no need to tackle me, but ok, what is it?”


“I’m pregnant!”


“WHAT!!”


“My Ter’Oth, gave me medicine a few weeks ago. There was no guarantee it would work so we didn’t want to say anything. But just now, I ran here from the medical bay. We just found out. We’re having a baby!!!”


El smiled, even though she was hurting inside. “That’s great! Congratulations to you both.”


“What is it El, you don’t seem happy?”


“Lee’tha, I’m sorry. The last time someone close to me was going to have a baby, she died, the babies too. I’m happy for you really, it’s just overshadow.”


“I see. Well don’t worry, I’m going to be just fine.”


“There you are.” The group turned to see another male of El’s clan approach. Ter’Oth was completely out of breath.


“Let me guess,” El said. “You found out, gave him a kiss and hug, then left him in the dust to come here?”


“Well yes. It is tradition for the new mother to tell the first closest female, other than her mother. Since my family and I are not too close, you are the only one.”


“I’m…honored…” she said as she rubbed her shoulder where the woman’s arms flew around her. “…I think.”


“El…?” Lee’tha suddenly realized that the entire group was looking at them.


Sol helped El re-seat herself, as Lee’tha and Ter’Oth took a seat to Sol’s right. “You must introduce the females only, El. I will introduce the males. It is proper manors,” Sol whispered.


“Lee’tha, this is…Zon…and if remember correctly, you are Vaz?” The females nodded. “Ladies, this is my friend Lee’tha.”
Lee’tha nodded to each of the ladies, but before they could speak, Sol spoke up for Ter’Oth. “This is Kal’esh, Zon is his sister, Bon-ta, Rel’be, Vaz is his mate, and Rel’be’s younger brother Reo.”


“Greetings,” Ter’Oth said, “I hope we are not being rude. We have an open invitation to the table of Ver’On, El and Sol.”
“Not at all,” Vaz eased, patting her huffing mate on his hand. “Rel is very mannered, now that we know you were previously invited, he can calm himself, before he hits someone.” Rel grunted, at the healer, then turned to Bon-ta, as he eyed the serving female next to him, as she poured him more of his drink.


“Not her, Bon-ta. They get the young females to serve, to get them used to being around males. If you touch her, her older brother or father will probably beat you.”


The meal was going well, one of the visiting high elder males had requested Ver’On to remain at his table for a time, he wanted to discuss a few things for the gathering. Ver’On had only returned to El long enough to inform her of this, and asked that she keep the guests with her entertained until he returned. As entertaining as she was was trying to be, she couldn’t help but look to the head table, as the elders, and Ver’On spoke over maps and holo projections. Sol moved three spots closer to Kal, displacing Zon to Ver’On’s seat. He had become engrossed in conversation with Kal, Zon finding the talk of hunts intriguing, listened in with bated breath. Once in a while she would stroke Sol’s arm, only to have him flinch at her touch, and look to El to see if she objected.


El would smile, sip her drink and turn away. If Zon wanted Sol that was fine with her, she didn’t want him in that way, and the sooner Sol got his attention on someone else, the sooner she and Ver’On could get down to business.


Lee’tha was informed by Vaz that she too was expecting a child, and the two females just would not stop. They spoke of the clothing they could order, to enhance their developing bodies. “The males seem calmer around expectant mothers,” Vaz had told her. El shook her shoulders, she couldn’t really be sure either way, when Vaz had asked if she agreed. She’d not been here long enough to really take notice either way. Lee’tha went on about the fine furniture and bedding materials that the artisans of their clan made, and had promised to take Vaz to the display center, as soon as they woke from their morning naps.


El looked at Reo, who sat totally bored. So bored in fact, he was mimicking the female as she spoke. Being sure no sound would be uttered to ensure his secret game remained that, a secret. Rel’Ben was busy talking to the sever, making sure that the meat they brought was to Vaz’s liking. El turned her head sideways, the motion itself a familiar gesture to them as a question. Rel grunted to her as he continued, “Vaz has a short temper when she’s pregnant. If her food isn’t just right, she’ll kill the server, or at least try.” El nodded in thanks.


Sol had told her a while ago, that a female could not speak to strange males for at least a day, when not in her mate’s company. In this way, she learned, through observation, if his manors and behavior were to her standards, and she could choose if she wanted to converse with the male or not. So far, Rel’Ben and his companions, were very pleasant company indeed.


The night had finally wound down. Lee’tha invited Vaz and her mate, and Zon to come back to their quarters for the night, rather than lie in the guest beds, ones she was certain weren’t comfortable at all. Vaz accepted, much to her mate’s chagrin, however Zon declined, opting to ask Ver’On and El to remain with Sol, to talk more. To get to know him, before gathering.


“Sol?” El asked, pulling the young male aside as Ver’On guided them through the halls of the ship. “I thought you said that a female couldn’t talk to a strange male for at least a day. Why is Zon so chatty with you? I don’t understand.”


“Single females are different,” he said, urging her further down the hall to their quarters. “If the female has no mate, she can’t very well get one if she doesn’t talk to him now can she?”


“Guess not. Grab them, while the grabbings good I guess.”


“Exactly. You did say ‘grab’, right?” he asked. She nodded. “Oh good. I didn’t fully understand the last part, but we have a saying like that too, so I guess it was the same thing.”


The pair strolled in, as Ver’On was explaining where the guest room was, which was were Sol slept most of the time, he showed her where the facility room was, and warned her not to go into the locked room at the back. “Your trophy room?” she asked politely. Ver’On growled lowly, and walked away. “Was it something I said?”


“No, Zon,” El offered. “Ver’On’s trophies are here, with Sol’s, that room back there is…well I’m not really sure what it is, but even I’m not allowed in there.”


“That’s dreadful! These are your quarters as well. You should be permitted to go in whichever room you please.”


“Well, it pleases me more that Ver’On has a private place to go to be alone, even from me. Its better than learning he’s been in the common female’s bed.” Zon’s eyes shot to her. El shook her head, “No, neither of these males has done that.” Zon gave a sigh of relief, then thread her arms around Sol’s waist. Sol purred at her, then he remembered who was standing next to him.


“…Ah, perhaps we should…”


“Hey, don’t mind me. Zon you want to jump his bones, you go right ahead. I’m not gona stop you.”


“Jump him?” she asked, totally confused. “I’m not going to fight him.”


“I’m sorry. I keep forgetting that you don’t know a lot of human terms. ‘Jump his bones’ or ‘…her bones’ is another way of saying that you wish to mate.” Zon nodded, then a huge smile spread to her entire face.


“Are you releasing your Kadji?” she asked. Sol looked between her and Ver’On.


“I release him,” Ver’On chuckled. “If it keeps him from interfering with My’El and myself, I release him.”


“EL!” Sol stated urgently. “Think first of what you are going to say. If you release me, than there will be no one to protect you, when Ver’On is not around.”


“Honestly,” Zon gasped, sliding her hand beneath the young male’s chest plate, “she doesn’t have to release you at the same time.”


“If you want him now,” El said playfully. “I release him to you.”


Zon smiled even more, and pulled the young male to his quarters. “I do hope those walls are sound proof.” Ver’On laughed, as the young male hastily closed the door, before the female cold slide her hands below his loincloth. El laughed and followed Ver’On to their room. “Are you sure about this?” he asked her, as she lay on the bed still clothed. She’d been getting used to sleeping without clothing, though the feel of another’s skin sticking to hers was an odd sensation, she would gladly do it for Ver’On. So far, he’d understood her reluctance to be nude with him, it tended to lead to awkward moments. So he offered her a separate sheet, one she kept draped across her hips and legs, a physical barrier that they knew they could not cross just yet.


El looked back to him, her fatigue plain in her eyes. “If we have too, we can ask him again tomorrow.” The two looked to the door, as a loud roar came from the other side.


Ver’On opened the door, but went no further, allowing his keen hunter’s hearing to detect what was going on. He could hear Zon and her passion filled sighs, and Sol, with his lusty grunts and loud purrs. Ver’On closed and locked their door once more, and turned to El as she finished shedding her common dress, and sliding into bed, her sheet wrapped tightly around her waist. “I don’t think they’re waiting for gathering.”


“She’s been petting him all night. I’m surprised he didn’t lay her out on the table in the dinning hall,” El laughed.


“Such an activity is only excused when the male AND the female are in heat at the same time,” he said, laying his loin cloth over his armor, and sliding beneath the covers. El had closed her eyes, as usual, to keep from seeing him nude just yet. She wanted the sight of him to be a surprise to her. Ver’On couldn’t really understand, but she had promised to stare at him long at hard at gathering, so he let it pass.


“Males go into heat?”


“Oh yes,” she sighed, cupping her right breast in his warm hand, and drawing the nipple of her left into his mouth. She loved this feeling. His hands, strong enough to rip out the bones form a human after the kill, yet they made her feel so good. His mouth, though the sharp points of his teeth against her flesh was uncomfortable, the feel of his sucking on her wore away the pain, with a renewed warmth that quickly spread down her body. Ver’On reluctantly let her nipple fall from his mouth, using his tongue to circle it gently, before looking at her once more. “Males have Must, remember.” She nodded, unable to find her voice. “If a Must male is around a female in heat, don’t get between them. Female or not, he’ll kill you to get to her.” Again she nodded, and followed his motions to turn on her right, so he could wrap his arms around her, to hold her close in their dreams. “We will be at gathering soon,” he said, half whispering. “and when we get there, I will mate you to the beat of the drums so deep and hard, you’ll wish it to never end.” El shuttered delightfully, and curled more to him to sleep, pressing her hips closer to his lower region as he liked, to feel the semi hard flesh that he would soon bring to full force, and make her his woman.