Rivers Run Deep

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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.

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Rivers Run Deep



Chapter 33



Over the following days, Ver’On was deep in discussion with Kal, Rel, and Bon, about a great hunt on the moon that orbited the planet selected for gathering. He’d heard of the game to be hunted here, but never had the opportunity to hunt there himself. Sol was unseen, as was Zon, in all that time. But both were heard quite often, to be sure they were still alive in his room.


In the meantime, El went around with Lee’tha and Vaz, and watched over young Reo for Kal. Lee’tha and Vaz were so engrossed in their conversations about their expected babies, that they hardly noticed El often running to catch up. You’d think being pregnant would slow the women down, but no, they were too excited, and walked at the normal Yautja pace, always out walking El.


Reo stopped in one of the doorways, watching the sparing that was going on inside. He grunted to the females to stop and watch with him, but El was the only one who did. “Who is that?” Reo asked, pointing to the huge male in the middle of the sparing floor, as he nodded to his new opponent.


El looked inside, she didn’t recognize any of the Yautja there. “I don’t know Reo. I don’t usually linger here,” she replied, as the male took several blows from his opponent, before sending him flying across the floor with a single blow of his own. El grasped young Reo’s arm to move him along, but he shook her off.


“Some female you are,” he scoffed. “Not knowing the names of superior males like him.”


“I don’t know him, because I know where NOT to stick my nose in. Now lets go!” The goy growled at her repeated attempts to move him. “Growl all you want, I’m responsible for you today, and we are moving on.” She grabbed one of his dreads, an action Rel had told her to do if he didn’t obey her.


Reo shook her off, and pushed her to the floor, hard enough to knock the wind out of her. “NEVER TOUCH ME AGAIN! OOMAN!!” But as he turned back to the room, there were three males standing before him, one was the huge male they’d just been watching. Reo puffed up his chest, proud that they acknowledged his presence. But none said a word to him. “Some females don’t know their place,” he stated, but still they did not speak.


The huge male shoved the boy aside and knelt by El, who’d been gasping for a bit, to regain her breath, while trying to get up. The male eased her to her feet, keeping one hand on her shoulder, gently probing her chest with his other hand, where Reo’s blow had connected with her chest. She protested at first, then realized why he was doing it, and nodded her thanks. “Nothing broken,” he told her, in a surprisingly deep gentle voice. “You’ll probably have a bruise.” He waited for her to steady herself as her wind returned to her more, then let her go. “You’re either very brave, or very stupid, to take charge of a Yautja boy. He should be on the nursery level, not here.” Remembering what Sol had told her about strange Yautja, she just nodded to him, an amused smile gracing her lips.


“I’m NOT a baby!” Reo protested, crossing his comparably minuscule arms over his chest.


“You act like it!” the male barked, sending the boy two feet back from them from his voice’s ferocity, where only seconds before it was as gentle as a soft breeze. “The blow you gave here would knock any female to the floor! Perhaps we should do the same to you!”


Despite her slight limp, which Reo had been complaining about all morning, and the developing bruise on her chest, El moved very quickly placing herself between the males and the boy. “Be lucky,” she gasped to Reo, “that I take my responsibility of you seriously. Else your bother would be scraping you off this floor.”


“You could not harm me if you tried, Ooman.”


“Maybe not, but they can. And I’m quite sure this fine male behind me would like nothing better than to wipe that grin off your face.” Though she could not see him, the male had nodded yes to her statement.


“I dare you,” he whispered to El, counting on what he believed what little honor she had would keep her from allowing him to be harmed.


“You think you can take him?” The boy just crossed his arms again, daring her further to step aside. “Very well,” she said, as she took one step to her right. “I’m sure they won’t be all that forgiving.”


“El! Reo!” Lee’tha and Vaz had back tracked their journey to locate their missing friend. Several of the males purred at Lee’tha, until they noticed her mark on her shoulder. “What happened?”


“Oh, just getting ready to see how stupid this boy really is.”


“What happened?” Vaz asked, crossing her arms to Reo.


“She would not let me watch the fights!”


“You’re not allowed, remember. You’re being punished,” Vaz scolded. “Did he disrespect you?” she asked of El.


“He knocked her to the floor,” the male said.


“REO! How could you! What if she were pregnant, like myself and Lee’tha? Would you have done so then as well?!” several of the males in the back began shifting on their feet. Obviously not sure who her mate was, and wondering just who’s child she carried, secretly preying it wasn’t theirs.


“The OOMANT BITCH should learn her place!”


El’s translator couldn’t yet translate one of the words, but she was certain she knew what it was. She grabbed, and wrapped, his dread around her hand, and pulled him through the crowd to the sparing floor, letting him go only when they’d reached the middle. All the males grunted with laughter at the boy, none of them really knew oomans could be as temperamental with young as their own females.


“BITCH!!” he shouted, reaching back to punch her.


Even though her left leg was not as strong as it once was, she used it in a powerful kick to the boy’s face, sending him to the floor. The males cheered for her, and began to line the mat to watch closer.


Comparatively the two were much the same size, though even without the developed muscles, young Yautja were still stronger than humans, and she knew it. But there were still the stun points along the body, seemingly common to both humans and Yautja. Making one’s chin meet their nose was one of them.


Reo looked up from the floor, furious that she’d done what she did. How embarrassing. “My brother will hear about this!” he threatened.


“Your brother had already given me permission to do what was reasonable to keep you in line,” she stated calmly.
Reo roared as he leapt form the floor, his arms wide to tackle her to the floor, but she ducked, jabbing her fist to his diaphragm. Reo collapsed to the floor, in total shock that she’d downed him again. Then he realized, he needed to breathe. DESPERATLY!


El looked to Reo, as he gagged on the floor. She didn’t’ feel proud of what she’d done, Reo was a child, he needed guidance, mentorship, not a beating. “He will be headstrong,” Rel had warned. “Do not be afraid to be tough with him. If you need to set him straight, don’t be afraid to pound him.” He’d chuckled at the last, noting her small stature compared to Reo’s. Though both were the same height, Reo was far stronger, and he knew she knew it.


“Now,” El sighed, kneeling next to the boy, as his breath returned. “Let us continue our walk. We’ll talk no more about this.” Reo looked at her, then gently nodded. She stood and turned to walk away, when Reo reached up and slammed his fist into the back of her left thy.


Her scream was high pitched, more from surprise rather than from pain. She looked back to Reo, as he rose to his full height, stepping to either side of her hips, his hands balled to fists. “Oomans are prey. You are weak,” he said, but as he raised his hand to strike again, two things happened, so quickly Reo wasn’t sure what went first.


El pulled her left leg over, and slammed her right foot into Reo’s groin. At the same time, from her point of view, the large male that had helped her earlier, slammed his own fist into the boys chest, sending him across the floor.


The male stalked after the boy, as Lee’tha and Vaz went to El. “Are you alright?” Lee’tha asked.


“Shock mainly,” she replied, sure that there should be pain in her leg by now.


“Throttle him!” Vaz shouted, as the male pulled the boy to his feet, and locked him in his arms to keep him from running away.


“Vaz?”


“It’s all right El. You did right by teaching him. You gave him a chance to prove himself to you, and offered to forgive him, then he strikes you in a cowardly move. He deserves what he is about to get.”


“No! HUNTER, PLEASE!” The male turned to El, the boy quite out of sorts, about to be beaten soundly. El moved to kneel, and bowed to the male. “I know I’m breaking tradition by talking to you directly. But please. Don’t beat him. He needs guidance. Not physical punishment. Please, I ask you not to hurt him.”


The male looked at the boy, then back to her. She was breaking tradition by talking to him, but…she did say please. “If he is not sufficiently reprimanded,” the male began, more so addressing the males of the room, “this kind of behavior could escalate, and he could, later in life, become a bad blood, hunted by his own kind, to his death.” He then dropped the boy to the floor, where Vaz went over and sat on him, to keep him down. The male then walked up to El, and nodded to her, before he pulled her to her feet. “Thank you, for your respect,” he whispered. She nodded, but as he let her go, she nearly fell over, as she tried to put weight on her left leg. The male’s arms shot out to catch her, though a total fall was not imminent, with Lee’tha also there to hold her up.


“Can you walk?” Lee’tha asked.


El began to shake as she spoke. “I don’t think so. I think he broke the bone.” The male went to her leg, tearing the skirt of her dress to her mid thy, pausing only a moment as he saw her scar. He looked up to her, then gently thread his hands around her leg, are fully testing the tenderness of her flesh to small amounts of pressure. She did find it uncomfortable, but the bone was sound.


“Nothing broken,” he said, as he rose o his feet again. “I believe your muscles are shocked.” Without warning, he took her to his arms, suspending her effortlessly. She scrambled to hide her legs, mostly her scars. “I will carry you back to your quarters.”


“Thank you…ah…I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”


“M’pa. My name is M’pa.”


“Thank you, M’pa.” He grunted to a couple of the males in the group, who quickly gathered the boy from the floor, several receiving delighted giggles from Vaz as they helped her to her feet.


“This way,” Lee’tha offered, and led the way back through the ship.






Ver’On scrutinized the edge of one of his blades, as he ran the sharpening tone over the edge. The hunt was going to be marvelous. The beasts were vicious, cunning, and huge. ‘I’ll have to enlarge the trophy room again,’ he thought, and looked up at the sound of the door chime. He opened the door, and Ter’Oth strode in, putting his medical kit on the seat. Ver’On raised a brow to him, as the healer turned and leaned on the seat’s arm. “Ter’Oth? Why are you here?”


“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied. “I understand you’re going on a hunt with some of our guests.”


“Yes, Kal-tesh, Rel’ben, and Bon’ta. They have organized a hunting party of fifty or more hunters. The beasts will be glorious to hunt.”


“Are they looking for more?”


“Thought you were too busy mating Lee’tha? Pregnant or not.”


“No. Lee’tha is scared. She thinks the infant will be harmed if we mate further. She won’t even sleep in my bed if I’m aroused.”


“I feel sorry for you.”


“Which is why I wish to go on the hunt. Once the initial stages pass, she’ll be receptive again. Once the hormones start to flair.” The pair laughed. Both males knew all too well the hormone highs and lows of the expectant mothers. Ver’On looked back to the door as the chime sounded again.


Again Ver’On opened his door, and Rel’ben marched in. “WHERE IS HE!” Rel demanded.


“Are you looking for Reo? He’s still out with the females. Why?”


“You’ve not been told?”


“Told what?”


“He’s gotten into trouble again.” But before he could explain further of what he’d been told, the door chimed once more. Ver’On looked between the door and the two males, and an uneasy feeling came over him. What met his eyes when the door slid open was something he never would have expected.





“I have to warn you, M’Pa,” El began, as the huge male gracefully thread his way through the halls, following the females as they guided the way to her quarters. “Ver’On will not be pleased that you’re carrying me.”


“Ver’On?”


“My mate,” she said proudly, again trying to hide her legs from his eyes, though he wasn’t looking at all. “He’s very protective of me.”


“If that were so, he would not have allowed you to go off with a youth like him,” he stated. “Tell me, where did you get that scar?”


“That?...oh it’s nothing.”


“Nothing? A scar like that should be celebrated. Not hidden. It must have been a fierce battle. How many dead?”


“None! I didn’t kill anyone!”


“No deaths? How could you let them live?”


“Easy. Where I come from, if you kill someone, you go to jail, more so, they kill you.”


“Only if you kill dishonorably.”


“Here we are?” Lee’tha stated, pressing the door chime.


“On my world, there is no such thing as an honor killing.” The door slid aside, and Ver’On, for the first time, came face to face with El, though she wasn’t standing. “Don’t get mad Ver’On,” she said, seeing his eyes go from wide in shock to narrowing in anger, as he saw the male holding her. “He’s helping me.”


Ver’On gently growled acknowledgement to the tall male, he nodded his head in return. “I am M’Pa, your…mate, as she just informed me, had some trouble with the youth she was escorting.” Ver’On shot a look back to Rel. That explained why he was here. “She had trouble walking, so I opted to carry her.”


“El?”


“I’m alright, just really bruised.”


“Come, you may place her on the main lounger.” Ver’On stood aside as the male strode in, followed by the males escorting Reo, then the two females. Ver’On sealed the door, and went to the lounger, as M’Pa settled El, and stood aside. Ver’On eyed the slit in her dress, and glanced over his shoulder to the strange trio.


“He didn’t mean anything by it,” El assured, caressing his cheek in her hand, but Ter’Oth moved him out of the way, so he could examine her leg. El kept trying to keep her legs covered, as all six males watched her. “Do all of you have to look?” she asked. Ter’Oth grunted his laugh, as he ran his scanner over her thy.


“Tell me what happened?” Ver’On demanded gently of M’Pa.


“She held her own quite well,” M’Pa stated proudly. “She downed the boy twice.”


“Then how did this happen!”


“The boy struck from behind!” one of the guards stated. “The female was willing to forgive him, and he struck her.”


Rel belted the boy, and he went to the floor. “STOP THAT!” El shouted. Rel looked at her. “Reo? Are you ok?” The boy looked at her, a small trickle of blood coming down his cheek. “Come here.” Rel growled at him, pointing to the floor, where he slowly knelt. El took a piece of gauze from Ter’Oth’s bag, and dabbed the blood from his cheek. The boy just pulled away from her.


“RESPECT HER!” Rel bellowed. “She prevented you from getting killed today! Do you have any idea what these males would have done, had she not pleaded for your life!”


“I DON’T NEED AN OOMAN FEMALE TO PLEAD ANYTHING FOR ME!”


El just sighed. “As you wish. M’Pa, you and your friends may do as you wish with him.”


“I believe we can think of something.”


“You wouldn’t!” Reo shouted. “My brother will NOT permit it!”


“THINK AGAIN!”


“If you’re all finished bellowing!” Ter’Oth began. “El, I have the results of the scan I just took.”


Ver’On shoved the boy away, moving to El’s side. “What is wrong with her leg?”


“The main nerve running down your leg was bruised. I’ll give you a regenerative, but I promise you, the effects will not be…decent.”


“What do you mean?”


“It is common to females of our clan that they experience small flashes of heat, sometimes in the most embarrassing of places, or situations.”


“Will I be able to walk?”


“In about a day or so.”


“Until then, you will remain here,” Ver’On stated flatly.


“And you will stay elsewhere, while we remain with her,” Lee’tha stated, pulling on Vaz’s sleeve to join her.


“If that is the case, then Zon and Sol will need to find another room to stay in.”


“Those two are still going at it?” Lee’tha asked.


“Oh yes!” El laughed, then winced as Ter’Oth injected the medicine.


“Bring the boy!” Rel bellowed, and lead the three males out the door.






Over all, it was an easy night, the medicine worked its way through her system well enough, and she only woke up in a cold bath once. When she finally did wake, her hair was still damp, and the room was cool. She sat up to find she was nude, without a cover, she turned to see Ver’On sitting in a near my chair, wrapped in three blankets. “What’s wrong?” she asked.


“I’m cold,” he replied. “Can’t you feel it?”


“Now that you mention it, it is a bit nippy. Why is it so cold?”


Ver’On adjusted the controls, and they both felt the room warming up. “We turned the heat down so you would be more comfortable. Your fever shot up, the medicine was quite hard on you. I had to bathe you three times in cold water, just so you would not die. The females asked me to return to help tend you, they left when I turned the heat down. Hey don’t like the cold.”


She’d covered herself in one of the sheets, and pulled him closer to her as he lay down. “You’re so good to me.”


“I know. Believe me, it was hard not to mate with you. If it were not for M’Pa always coming by to check on you, I think we would be both in disgrace right now.”


“Why would M’Pa be coming by?”


“He carried you back here, remember.”


“Yeah.”


“He feels still responsible for what happened. He is hoping you will forgive him.”


“Silly Yautja,” she sighed, “he didn’t cause any of it.”


“No, Reo did. And he still refuses to apologize.”


“So don’t let him sit at our table anymore. Make his sit with the babies if he wants to act like one.”


Ver’On looked at her and laughed. “You know, that sounds like a good idea. Rel is at his end with him as to what to do. He fears his little brother will become a bad blood even before he is a blooded warrior.”


“With an attitude like his, he’ll get killed in the training.” The two laughed as her stomach grumbled loudly throughout the room. “Dear god!” she laughed, embarrassed by the sound.


“I’d say you’re hungry.”


“Famished.” Ver’On raised his brow. “Yes, very, very, very hungry.”


“Good. There is a feast tonight. We’ll be orbiting the selected planet for gathering by morning. For right now…” he threw the covers off them both, and strode to where their clothing was stored.


“We eat. You hunt…”


Ver’On looked back to her, tossing her a new garment that she’d never seen before. He tore off his lower coverings, so that he was as nude as she, as he crawled over the bed to her, purring loudly all up her body, flicking his tongue over each soft nipple before coming eye to eye with her. “…we mate…” he purred, and thread his tongue into her mouth. How she adored the way he kissed her, his mandibles stroked her cheeks gently, his tongue dancing with hers, tracing each ivory tooth in her mouth. She could swear that her teeth never needed brushing, that he cleaned them himself, every time he kissed her. Her hands trailed down his shoulders, and moved beneath his arms, gliding across his flexing back muscles. He got bigger, she noted, his muscles were more defined.


There came an insistent knocking at their room door, and Ver’On reluctantly let her lips fall from his. Without moving he called out. “What is it!?”


“M’Pa is here,” Sol replied. “He is wondering if you will be eating in the main hall today?”


“Yes. We both will be.”


“She’s awake?! Wonderful!”


“We’ll be right out.” He moved over the bed and quickly put on his clothing, followed by some thick leather coverings that matched the shape of his armor. El looked him over, noting how slandering the garments made his torso and hips, while at the same time, accentuating his developed musculature.


“Oh my,” she tried to purr, as he had done. Ver’On chuckled at her attempt, knowing that she was studying him, he flexed his new physique, and she responded with a delighted gasp, and a sweet scent. “Wow. Wear that to gathering. Please?”


“I won’t be wearing it long.”


“It’ll be a contest as to which of us can peal it off you first. You with your claws, or…” she strode across the room to him, holding the garment in front of her, the fabric sliding off her legs as she walked, trying desperately not to limp as badly as she felt her leg to be. Ver’On could not take his eyes from her breasts, as they rose and fell with her quickened breath. His sight caught a glimpse once in a while of the scar that ran down her left thy, and it only made him want her more. She reached up, tugging his mandible gently, having him lower his head to hers. She put gently kisses to his chin and neck, before gently sliding her hand over the leather cover across his chest. “…or me with my teeth…” she continued.


Ver’On’s growl rumbled lustfully deep in his chest. “I better go,” he said, “before I toss you on the bed now, and not wait for gathering.” El sighed as he left the room, watching his calf and thy muscles flex with each forced step, his arms flex and relax as he continued to ball his fists and release.






Ver’On, Sol, Zon and M’Pa, all waited in the main living space talking, waiting for El to immerge from the bedroom. M’Pa paced back and forth once in a while, obviously impenitently waiting for the female to join them. “Please sit,” Zon stated at last. “You’re making me dizzy.”


“I thought that would be caused by your hormones coming back down,” Ver’On chuckled to her quietly.


“What did you say?” M’Pa asked, honestly not hearing him, but noting the odd expression the other two shot to Ver’On, he realized the statement was not for his ears.


“Oh, nothing,” Ver’On replied, sipping on his water. “Tell me, has Rel approached you about a hunt?”


“He has. I’m not sure I’ll go though.”


“Why in gods not?” Zon asked, in total shock that someone of his skill and rank would turn down a hunt with so many honored warriors.


“I’ve been to that moon many times. The game there bores me. It is a good spot to go, if you’ve not been before, or in a long time, but every time I meat up with a hunting party or a clan ship, it is always back to that damned moon. You’d think there was a secret garden there with females constantly in heat, at the rate the males flock to it.”


“Is there?” Sol asked. Zon gently swatted his abdomin, and Zon reached down and squeezed her breast. The two laughed, and were about to get up to return to Sol’s room, had the bedroom door not opened, and El come limping into the room. At first all Ver’On could see was her shapely body draped in the gold fabric dress he’d given her. It was long, as she liked, and even brushed the tops of her toes. The peak a boo toes of her shoes once in a while coming out from under the hem made him purr gently, knowing those dainty feet could be quite the weapon if she so chose, but the legs that lead up to her body would soon be wrapped around him in mating. That thought only made him purr louder. Then he saw her limp once more.


Ver’On shot to her side, she had not been limping that badly before, nor had she when she’d just gotten up a few moments before. Something must have happened. “I’m all right,” she sighed, as he tried to lift her off her feet. “I’m all right, Ver’On. The bruised muscles are just complaining a little more, that’s all.”


“Are you certain you wish to go?” he asked her. “You would not be looked down upon if you did not. We could eat here. I don’t mind.”


“Ver’On, you’re very sweet to worry about me. But I’m not look at, at all, so other’s opinions do not matter. But they can’t say what I can.”


“And what is that?”


“That I survived with minimal damage, and a bruise, no broken bones.” Ver’On smiled, and tapped his mandibles rapidly across her brow. She giggled at the sensation. He hadn’t done that in so long.


Ver’On then straightened his posture, and turned to the others in the room. “You remember M’Pa?” he said. “M’Pa, allow me to properly introduce you to my mate, El.”


El returned his nod to her, with a gentle bow of her own. Ver’On and Sol both looked at her. El never bowed to anyone, other then them. “Hello again, M’Pa. I want to personally thank you, for your assistance yesterday.”


M’Pa grunted in laughter. “Yesterday? You mean three days ago. You certainly get knocked on your – ” Ver’On growled gently, warning him to choose his words carefully. “ – ah…backside…” he said, not wishing to mix it up with the warrior in his own quarters, it would be a fight that M’Pa was not ready for. “…when you are given our medicines. Perhaps you should not get hurt anymore.”


“Getting hurt was never my intention,” she assured him. “However, I do agree. Your meds are very strong. Thank you for correcting my error. I had no idea I’d been out for so long. I should talk to Ter’Oth about maybe watering them down a little for me.”


“Later,” Ver’On hushed, “I’m hungry. Lets go eat.”


The journey to the main dinning hall was short in distance, but took longer in time. El could hardly put any weight on her left leg, by the time the got off the lift, and used the wall to balance herself, while the rest of the group lagged behind with her, not wanting to offend her by leaving her behind. That’s what got her hurt the last time. “El?” M’Pa asked, as she took a short break to rub her leg. “I’m sorry, but I must ask again, where did you get that scar on your thy?”


“You mean scars, don’t you?” Sol asked. M’Pa looked at him, surprised that he would say there was more than one scar. How would he know? Had he seen her that exposed at one point? “I was Kadji to El and Ver’On,” he explained, seeing the warrior’s expression. “I know for a fact that she has one scar down the front of her left thy, and again on the back, and one across the top of her right knee.”


“Really? How did she get them?”


“I’d rather not talk about it,” she sighed, and allowed Ver’On to hold her up as they continued on at a comfortable pace. “It isn’t something I’m proud of.”


“You should be!” Sol stammered. “The battle was glorious! Ver’On even recorded it.”


M’Pa clicked his mandibles, but remained otherwise silent. “I intend to show the record to Rel and the others during dinner. M’Pa,” he turned to face the taller warrior. “You are welcome to join us at our table if you wish. As our guest. El do you agree?”


“It’s the least we can do after you helped me. Just don’t ask me to give you an autograph.”


“A what?” M’Pa asked, her final word not translating.


“You didn’t understand?” M’Pa shook his head no, as did the others. “Ok, where I come from, if someone does something, like win a fight or something of the like. People ask them to sign their names to a piece of paper, which they keep as a memento of their meeting that person. It is called an autograph.”


The group nodded. “I see. The final word still did not translate, but I understand what you mean by it. Thank you.”


“You’re welcome.”


“As to joining you for dinner, I would be honored.” And he followed the group to their usual place at the table.


El greeted Lee’tha, but noted that Vaz was no where to be seen, and Lee’tha seemed quite upset. “Lee’tha, what’s wrong?” she asked.


“Nothing that you can help with,” she replied as again she looked across the room. El followed her line of sight. There amongst a group of other females, was Vaz, seeming to argue with the females, and trying to get passed them.


“What is all that about?” Ver’On made her sit with a gentle shove to her shoulder, and helped her swing her legs over the bench like seat.


“The females are informing Vaz about my past,” Lee’tha stated. “She will not be joining us.” El looked over to the group in time to see Vaz throw a huge bowl of soup at the females, and finally storm away, heading for their table.


“I wouldn’t count on that,” El said, patting Lee’tha’s arm. The two smiled as the woman sat down, followed by Zon, who sat very gently.


“What’s wrong with you?” Vaz asked her.


“That Sol,” she trilled. “He’s perfect. We become official mates at Gathering.”


“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO SOONER!?” El asked excitedly. “Congratulations!”


“Thank you. Sol wanted me to tell you in front of the other females, in case you became upset.”


“Up set? Why would I be upset?”


“Because after gathering, he’ll be leaving with me. You may not see him again.”


“Well I hope he knows how to send messages. I want to be informed within two days of your babies being born.”


“Why?”


“So I know how many adopted nieces and nephews I have.” Zon trilled at her, realizing that El wished to remain a life long friend.


“You know,” Zon began. “You could always ask your mate to move to our ship. Lee’tha you could do the same. From what Rel has told me, your Ter’Oth is an excellent healer, yet his talents are being wasted here.”


“Trying to steal us way?” Ver’On chided, as he leaned between El and Lee’tha, placing the holographic player in the middle of the table.


“It was only a suggestion,” Vaz offered. “Besides, I’ve not found a suitable second mate here anyway. Gathering will pass and we will meet up with another ship. Perhaps I will find one there.”


“What about M’Pa?” El asked. M’Pa spat out his beverage. He’d not intended to be listening to the females talk, but being unable to sit till the rest of the group took their places, to be sure he did not offend anyone, he stood behind El, yet a couple steps back from her, so as not to crowd her. “M’Pa, do you have a mate?”


M’Pa wiped the remnace of his drink from his leather coverings, before answering her. “No, I do not.”


“Well Vaz?”


“I had discussed it with him earlier,” she stated. “But he’s not my type. Rel was also making noises about wanting another female mate, so I gave him permission to go find one.”


Rel then sat down next to his mate, and the two exchanged brief pleasantries, before El saw them do something very peculiar. Rel extended his mandibles around Vaz’s face, and Vaz reached hers out and rubbed against the inside of the webbed flesh between each tooth tipped bone. Pleasant purrs came from both, and El suddenly realized, they were oblivious that they were in a public room. Lee’tha leaned over briefly. “It is not polite to stare at them while they kiss,” she whispered.


El turned to her. “Sorry, I just never saw two Yautja kiss before.”


“Its alright. I’m sure they don’t mind. But others might. Just wanted to warn you.”


“Thanks.”


“Any luck?” she heard Vaz ask her mate, finally no longer kissing.


“No,” he grumbled back. “The females here are too prudish.”


“Are too what?” El asked.


“Prudish. They are appalled that I would ask a few of them to become my second mate. I’ve spoken with at least 50 in the last three days, at great length, and none of them would care for the honor.”


“Perhaps on the next ship.”


“Yes, we’ll both find what we wont there.”
“Vaz? What did those other females want?” Lee’tha kicked El gently beneath the table.


“Oh that? Nothing. They were telling me lies about how our Lee’tha here was once the ships female.”


Lee’tha shivered. “They weren’t lying,” she sighed. El put her arms around her. With her pregnancy her hormones would be all out of balance, and anything could and sometimes did upset her enough to make her cry. Vaz just stared at her. “It wasn’t by choice,” she continued, dabbing her tears from her eyes with her napkin. “But I’m out of that life now. I will never go back.”


“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vaz asked, reaching over and taking Lee’tha by the hand.


“It was my past. One does not boast about such things.”


“True, but it took true courage to break free of that life. I’m VERY proud of you!”


Lee’tha looked up at the two smiling females. “You’re…you’re not disgusted?”


“Not in the least. There are many like that on our ship. Some do not have the courage to break away and choose a single mate. You did.” Both Zon and Vaz gave her hands gentle squeezing. “We’re happy to call you our friend.” Lee’tha was so happy she couldn’t help but cry harder.


As El comforted her, a group of the same females came to the opposite side of the table, to stand behind Vaz and Zon. “So,” one of them stated, her voice full of cynicism. “Has the whore told you yet?”


“Yes, the lady has told us the truth,” Vaz stated. “Rel, my mate, would you kindly herd these creatures BACK to their own side of the room. They are starting to smell up the place.”


“Of course my mate.” Rel stood to his full seven foot five height, and glared at the females. He growled gently in his chest before he spoke. “If you knew what was best for you, you would leave this table at once.”


“You wouldn’t dare strike us! We’re expecting!”


“Hiding behind your babies is sick. But no, I would never strike a female slated for breeding. However,” and he grabbed the irate female’s dreads and pulled her head back hard. “I would march you all back across this room as the unruly children you are portraying to be. NOW MOVE!!!” with a shove, the females all left. Lee’tha and El laughed, and applauded Rel as he sat, once he was sure the females left their area. Vaz sat in her seat, like a regal princes. Once Rel was reseated, he stroked his mate’s neck, then leaned over and inhaled her scent.


“She’s in a breeders heat,” Lee’tha explained. “As her pregnancy progresses, her hormones change. Sometimes she wants nothing but to mate, other’s you best not cross her.”


“Would I go through the same ups and downs?” El asked.


“Not sure. Your system is different than ours.”


“My friends,” Ver’On began, and the small group took their seats. To M’Pa it became obvious that Ver’On would sit next to El, and as their guest, he would sit closest to those who had invited him. M’Pa chose a place on the bench, a respectable distance from Ver’On and sat. As Ver’On spoke, more Yautja in the area turned their attention to him to listen to what he was saying. “As promised, I will show you what it is about this delightful Ooman female, that has drawn my attention to her, and locked my heart with hers. As you may have heard, I lost my first mate and offspring in childbirth. I was full of rage. During my travels to calm my heart, I went to the blue planet to hunt. There I witnessed this female lose her family to violence as well. I was unaware just how this affected her. But as you are about to see, her heart was as enraged as my own.” Ver’On pressed a button on the player, and sat, pulling El into his lap, and pressing his chin to the crook of her neck and shoulder.


As the battle with the four adult males of her world played out, he purred deep in his chest, sending wave upon wave of delicious tingles and warmth through her body. As their own battle played out, Ver’On’s tongue found her ear, and slowly began to caress it. He held her tighter as her scent changed. ‘So,’ he thought, ‘she is thrown into head very easily.’ He pressed his hand to her lower stomach, noting how firm it was. ‘Yes. She will become pregnant at our first mating. She is more than ready.’


By the time the player had stopped, Ver’On had worked El to a near frenzy by dipping the fine tip of his tongue in and out of her ear, gently kneading it with his teeth, as his purrs resounded deep within her body. What he didn’t know, was that his warm breath was causing her to become even greater aroused, as he would breathe gently down her ear. The group applauded the recording, and Ver’On reluctantly returned El to her seat. Lee’tha held her shoulders to steady her, as she recovered from Ver’On’s latest teasing. Lee’tha too cheered her, as did many other Yautja in the hall who where close enough to see the recording play out.


“That was incredible!” Vaz shouted over the grunts of the excited males around them. “You actually went up against a full grown male Yautja, and won the greatest trophy imaginable! YOU WON HIM!”


El was still rapidly breathing as she replied. “Actually…I think…we both won.”


“Oh Ver’On,” Zon called in midst a giggle. “Did you have to tease her? Poor thing can hardly breath!”


“How is one to get her ready for gathering in time?” Ver’On chided, sliding his hand over her right thy in a teasing manner. Then he turned his attentions to M’Pa, who sat in total awe of what he’d just viewed. M’Pa had been in combat with many oomans, and he himself on more than one occasion, mated with an Ooman female, though to keep her was not something he did. “M’Pa,” he stated quietly. The male turned to face Ver’On. “I must ask you a favor.”


“Yes?”


“El has never mated before, not even with her own kind. Ritual has been denyed us by the head of my family, however, gathering over rules his decision, and his authority. Mating with her will be dangerous, and without the usual assistance of those we would have selected for our ritual, she could become fearful. You understand?”


“Completely. But what does that have to do with me?”


“I have heard that you intend to leave our ship, before gathering. I ask you, as a friend, stay. Assist My’El with our mating. Stand in as our Kadji. After the deed is done, we will release you of course. But please, I’m asking you to help me. I do not wish to hurt her.”


M’Pa looked over at El. She’d regained herself somewhat, though her body heat remained high, and her scent was strong of sexual need. It had been a long time since he’d scented it. He’d almost forgotten how powerful it could be. “You realize what you are asking of me?” he asked Ver’On, who nodded. “You know that after you have mated her, I must as well. It is the duty of the Kadji to ensure the female is properly satisfied.”


“She knows this.”


“As long as that is understood. I accept.”


“EXCELLENT!” The slap of Ver’On’s hand on the table made all present jump, along with all the plates, utensils, and even the water pitcher, which Rel quickly grabbed to keep from falling over. “El!”


“What?” she laughed, the moment of surprise doing nothing to calm the heat he and set lose in her body.


“M’Pa has agreed to be our Kadji.”


El buried her face in her hands. ‘Not again,’ she thought.


“El?” M’Pa asked, leaving his seat to crouch on the floor behind her. “Are you alright?”


“Yeah, I’m fine.”


“Oomans find it a little embarrassing to be wanted by two males at the same time, and not have them fight over her.”


M’Pa nodded, and reached his hands out to her shoulders. “It will be alright El. You’ll see. Gathering will be splendid.”


El shook her head. “Could you all excuse me, I need to go to the facility.”


“I’ll escort you,” M’Pa stated, rising to his feet and extending his hand to help her up.


“Thanks, but I think I can find my way.”


“I’ll go with her,” Lee’tha stated. “I have to go myself.”


M’Pa looked at Ver’On, who nodded. “Females always seem to go in pairs or groups. Not to worry, you’ll get used to it.”

M’Pa watched uneasily as the females left the hall, coincidently followed by a number of Yautjas.






“Honestly,” El gasped, as the two reached the hall. “I thought I’d have Ver’On all to myself, and he goes and does this?”


“The selection of Kadji is up to the male, but you could refuse you know.”


“That would insult the invited male wouldn’t it?”


“Well…yes. In his eyes he would see that you think him less than male – AAHH!!” Lee’tha suddenly hit the wall, and El was thrust into the lift, as she turned the doors closed, and she came face to face with an old graying Yautja.


“EEELLLL!!!!!” she heard from the other side of the door, as Lee’tha repeatedly threw her fists to the metal surface.


“You hurt Lee’tha, and Ter’Oth will kill you,” El warned. “You hurt me, and Ver’On and my Kadji M’Pa will kill you. Either way, you die.”


“BE SILENT!” he barked, and pressed a button and the lift began to move. Lee’tha’s voice became more and more faded as the lift moved away from the floor. Then the lift stopped, but the doors remained closed. El looked around, trying to think of what to do. There weren’t any objects in the lift she could use as a weapon. There wasn’t enough space that she could use to get away, where the male would not be able to reach out and grab her. The ceiling of the lift was too far for her to jump to, in order to escape through the hatch there. And there were no hatches in the floor.


She was trapped. And he knew it.