One More

Author's notes: This chapter has not been beta read. Apologies in advance for any errors. No sex scene in this chapter either. *sigh* I'm trying to work some "intimate time" in the next chapter but no one hold me to that. Anyone else going through withdrawals without it?

Many Thanks to the reviewers:

torturequeen06: Glad you enjoy it and thank you for taking the time to write a review. :)

moira hawthorne: Of course she's going to be all over the lame pup. We can't let Raz'ha off easy.

Death God Dist: The bartering was confusing even for me, but it was a lot of fun. Raz'ha is slowly but surely wearing Amelia down. ;)

Panpriestess: Your comments mean a lot to me. I hope I can live up to outstanding.

Cricket: Of course Amelia is going to harass him over the hound! lol.

KarenLioncourt: I would too. Thanks for the review!

KatFO: At least you're honest! Thanks for taking the time to write a review last chapter.

I'll put the lengthy thanks at the end of chapters in the future to save on scrolling.

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Chapter 6

Amelia slipped out of the private lab in Val'jek's quarters.

"Your blood pressure is elevated," Mah'sic called behind her.

He informed her of every microscopic change in her body and expected her to explain the why of it. For being a Yautja, Mah'sic knew more about her body than she did.

"That's nice, must be all the green meat," Amelia called over her shoulder as the lab door slid closed.

Facing forward, she bumped into a solid wall of warm flesh and armor. "Excuse me." Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment as she looked up at Raz'ha.

She thought her earlier rebuff had sent him away permanently. Tests throughout the first half of the day had been slow and she half expected the Yautja to make an appearance. Amelia had desperately wanted him to break up the monotonous experience of Mah'sic's scans. She was left wondering what caught Raz'ha's attention when she settled into bed for her nap.

Upon pain of death, she would not admit that she had missed the warrior's annoying habit of breathing down her neck. Still, she wondered what he had been doing all day.

Clearly the warrior was no longer occupied and she braced herself to turn him away, again. Despite wanting the amusement, accepting this particular Yautja into her day to day life was not a step she was ready to take.

Both his arms were behind his back, making his chest puff out. Dressed in his armor, Raz'ha's chest plate shined a bit without a single scratch or dent. Val'jek had ceremonial armor that was kept in perfect condition, but it was highly decorative and gold colored. Even his new armor was dented or scratched within a day. Perhaps Val'jek was mistaken about the warrior's status.

Raz'ha started to purr then quickly cut it off. He bowed his head, more of a nod to her since five foot seven was much shorter than the seven and a half foot tall Yautja.

Amelia skirted around him, intending to hide from Mah'sic and his prodding for an hour while she painted. Language lessons were daunting since she was the slowest learner on the ship. The younger Yautja wanted to scan her brain while she practiced. He hoped to figure out why she was not picking up his language.

Raz'ha stopped her. "Amelia." Her name came out a bit mangled as he struggled with the sounds.

"Raz'ha." She looked at him expectantly.

She was supposed to be considering him as a potential mate, but she avoided the thoughts. Taking on two men was wrong where she came from. Her brother must be rolling over in his figurative grave. Amelia paused at the thought and realized she was mistaken. Amelia had walked in on her brother with two women once. They weren't doing anything yet, but clearly the trio had intended to.

So maybe it wasn't as taboo after all. Then again, Raz'ha and Val'jek were aliens and that was taboo enough to avoid all other taboos, right? Amelia was starting to wonder. There were no other humans to know if she did take on a second mate. No one whispered mean things behind her back, or looked at her differently, after fooling around in her studio.

Raz'ha was clicking at her and she shrugged. Amelia didn't catch enough to understand what he wanted.

Raz'ha lifted a large cloth covered box, which he balanced on one hand. Mewling came from inside.

"What's this?" Amelia got presents from Val'jek this way. Many of the Elder's gifts were covered by fur or cloth. She explained wrapping paper, and Christmas once, but it hadn't translated well. Amelia had a difficult time convincing Val'jek that Santa Claus wasn't something he could hunt and take as a trophy. Apparently a trespassing character bringing presents to minors had all sorts of mating repercussions to a Yautja. Saint Nick was a sex offender to her mate.

Raz'ha trilled and pressed his present closer.

"I don't need a present, really, but thank you." She pushed the box back toward him, feeling bars and the shift of weight. More mewling was heard and she grew curious.

Raz'ha pushed the present back at her. Amelia didn't take the box but tugged at the cloth.

Amelia gasped covering her mouth with surprise. Two small black puppies were huddled together in the cage. Puppies from Earth. Her heart wrenched with longing and wonder. She didn't think it was possible to ever see another living being from her home planet. She stuck her fingers through the bars and touched the soft fur as they wiggled and mewled.

"Where did you find them?" She was ecstatic, taking the cage from him.

"Gift." Raz'ha used English, drawing out the word by a syllable or two.

"Mah'sic!" Amelia called. She needed a translator for this. Settling on the giant sofa, she opened the cage.

Mah'sic entered, chirping a greeting to Raz'ha. He hovered close as she pulled out the puppies.

"Oh, they're so precious," she murmured, bringing one to her face to nuzzle. It mewled. He was a male, solid black with floppy triangle ears, a little tail and paws too big for his legs. The other was a female black as well but with a patch of white fur on her chest. Her feet happened to be proportional but ears were equally floppy. They were mutts but Amelia didn't know enough about dogs to figure out what kind of mutts. She loved them anyway.

"What are they?" Mah'sic asked and put his mask on, undoubtedly to examine the situation with all his tools and tests. "Your blood pressure is normal."

"Puppies." Amelia ignored his last statement. She placed the male puppy in her lap. She held out the female to Mah'sic. "You pet them, like this." Amelia showed Mah'sic and placed the puppy in his hand. "Careful with her. She's fragile."

Mah'sic trilled at the puppy who whined, squirming in his open palm. Another, heavier, mewl answered.

Raz'ha jerked his arm with a huffing grunt.

Amelia realized he had been holding his hand behind his back the entire time. The warrior looked stiff and uncomfortable to her. "What do you have?" Amelia eyed him with suspicion.

Raz'ha clicked something to Mah'sic, who shook his head and then answered her. "He says nothing."

Mah'sic was lying. Amelia knew the word and sounds for nothing. She frowned, petting the puppy in her lap. "Nothing is noisy. Is it a gift for one of your other females?" Cause to reject Raz'ha immediately without real consideration was preferable. Val'jek couldn't dispute such a failing.

"No," Raz'ha said to her, then spoke to Mah'sic again. He used a handful of words she picked out, even in his rapid speech.

"It is a lame Yaut Hound. He must put it down. He did not want you to be offended by its unsightly appearance," Mah'sic explained. "You appeared before he was prepared."

"Show me," Amelia insisted. She had never seen one, though Val'jek told her there was a breeder on the ship.

The warrior hesitated but drew closer. He held before her, not too close, a puppy sized alien creature.

The little thing looked silly and clumsy with his squirming. His head was too big for his body, mandibles, not unlike a Yautja, opening and closing like a sideways fish. He mewled like a puppy but deeper than the high pitched tones. The small Yaut Hound had no fur and his skin was a pale gray and yellow. Amelia detected a few hints of red and green streaks down his back which had several in little bumps and nubs. The tail was long for his body and curled around his leg, hiding under his belly.

"Can I pet him?" Amelia asked.

"Why?" Raz'ha used his own language.

"He is cute, in an ugly kind of way." Amelia shrugged. She reached for the Yaut Hound and touched his fleshy side. His skin felt like a Yautja's as well, smooth but not quite soft. He made a rumbling purr sound and she felt encouraged by the gentle vibrations under her fingers.

Raz'ha was watching her, head cocked to the side in confusion, but he held the creature out for her.

The creature settled as she pet him fully. He was warm, running several degrees hotter than her hand. Amelia risked touching his head. The Yaut Hound's eyes widened, the beady blackness following her movements as it saw her hand. The animal latched onto her finger, sucking the tip into his wet mouth.

Raz'ha growled and ripped the creature away. Discarding the hound haphazardly on the table, he grabbed her hand in an unbreakable hold. The Yaut Hound squealed and the puppies joined in. It was a full scale commotion as Raz'ha and Mah'sic spoke to each other in rapid clicks. The warrior examined her finger, leaning in close.

"It's fine. He didn't hurt me, but I think he is hungry." Amelia suppressed the urge to laugh at the overreaction. She tugged on her hand, hoping the Yautja would take the hint.

He rubbed her "injured" finger with the pads of his fingers. She blushed for an inexplicable reason.

Raz'ha released her hand and Mah'sic gave her back the puppy. Amelia settled both puppies beside her, smoothing down their furry sides with one hand.

"Is the Yaut Hound ill?" she asked, wondering if Raz'ha would let her hold the alien puppy.

"No." Raz'ha flipped the Yaut Hound over and held up a hind leg which looked mangled and stumpy. The hound squealed and squirmed, trying to right himself.

"You are going to put him down for that?" Amelia balked. "That's cruel."

Raz'ha clicked and Mah'sic translated. "The breeder uses him for demonstrations. The other Yaut Hound pups tear at him to show their prowess. It is kinder to kill him." Raz'ha showed her the green scrapes on the squirming hound's shoulders and face. Amelia had barely noticed them and assumed the marks were a part of his natural appearance.

"But you own him now. There are no Yaut Hounds to attack him," Amelia argued.

Raz'ha shrugged and Mah'sic said nothing, likely scanning the puppies or her. "Your blood pressure is even higher."

"He is going to kill a poor defenseless animal for no reason." Amelia waved her arms, as if the motion would help the hard headed aliens see reason. "Why buy him if you're just going to kill him?"

"He says it is a mercy killing. When Raz'ha is lame, he would rather die than be a target dummy." Mah'sic was probably paraphrasing. She didn't think the other Yautja understood target dummy.

"Could I buy him then? I have human things to trade," Amelia suggested. Giving up one of Val'jek's gifts was worth the alien's life. Her mate would understand.

"He will be dangerous when he gets bigger," Mah'sic supplied. "If he does not attack you, he will surely eat your puppies." Mah'sic struggled with the word puppies but it was passable.

Amelia gave the point consideration. Val'jek said the beasts were bred and trained to be vicious hunters. According to Val'jek, the beasts came up to her chest on all fours and they reared up on their hind legs to rip the heads off of taller prey. The visual made her shudder. Val'jek feared letting her in the same room with one in case it attacked her. She was prey to Yaut Hounds.

Looking at the Yaut Hound, that was only slightly larger than her puppies, she had trouble believing the creature could rip the head off of anything. When he latched onto her finger, he hadn't dug into her flesh. The hound only sucked as if looking for milk.

"Puppies are similar to your Yaut Hound. Men use them to hunt and fight, but we also use them as companions. It depends on what you teach the animal." Amelia wasn't ready to believe the the Yaut Hound was vicious on principle.

Mah'sic clicked, Raz'ha too but neither actually said anything so she continued. "If we teach him to be a companion he won't eat me."

"Even his play could harm you or your puppies." Mah'sic shook his head, his dreads swaying.

"We could try at least. At the first sign of aggression I will agree to find him another home." Amelia saw their reluctance so she went for Mah'sic's weak spot. "It will be a fine experiment. You and Val'jek could monitor his progress and I hypothesize nurture will prevail over nature."

Mah'sic clicked, encouraging Amelia. Raz'ha barked something and the younger Yautja backed down.

"Let's test the theory. We'll see if he can sit with the puppies peacefully." Amelia picked up the Yaut Hound, which was considerably heavier than he looked. His bones must have been denser than the puppies.

Raz'ha moved closer, reaching for the hound. Amelia shouldered his hand away and gently placed the Yaut Hound with her puppies. All three mewled and sniffed each other. Amelia held a hand above the them, just in case. When nothing but sniffing and whining happened, she relaxed. She pet all three, pleased by their puppy introductions.

Raz'ha did not relax. He moved even closer, kneeling on the floor. His bulky arm draped over her legs in a gesture much to intimate for her. She nudged his arm, but the warrior was oblivious. Raz'ha grunted at the Yaut Hound, making the puppies whine with fright.

"Don't be mean to them." Amelia pulled the puppies and alien closer.

Raz'ha said something Mah'sic didn't translate. The warrior poked at the Yaut Hound's head. The hound burrowed under a puppy for cover, making Raz'ha grunt again.

"Raz'ha, enough." Amelia shooed his claws away from her pets.

He made a few angry sounds despite her demand.

"He says you cannot keep him. Raz'ha doesn't want a trade," Mah'sic insisted, inching closer.

"Tell him," Amelia hesitated, gathering her pets and standing. Raz'ha stood too but let her pass. "Tell him that possession is nine tenths of the law."

Amelia bolted for her room, holding her pets to her chest. She slid her hand over the lock and the door slid open.

Mah'sic was actually translating what she said.

Raz'ha was right behind her and she ducked under the door as it slowly opened. She let out a surprised squeak as she narrowly escaped the claw that reached for her ankle.

Amelia scrambled across the floor on her knees and one hand. It was undignified but effective. Careful not to crush her pets, she slumped. Lying on the floor, she wondered why Raz'ha wasn't prying the lame hound from her hands. Panting more from excitement than physical activity, she looked back and a hysterical laugh bubbled up.

The door was open but Raz'ha and Mah'sic lingered outside it. Trespassing was a serious insult to Yautja. She suspected they were more concerned about disrespecting Val'jek than offending her. Amelia wasn't picky. She was safe with her new pets and that was all that mattered.

Amelia considered closing the door in their faces but thought better of it. The door being open likely gave her added protection. If the Yautja saw she was safe and not being savaged by a scared, toothless, runty beast, then their excuse of her safety was off limits.

Sitting on the floor, she settled her pets together in her lap. "Thank you for the gifts, Raz'ha." Amelia smiled, feeling cheeky.

Raz'ha huffed. He didn't look pleased.

Mah'sic anxiously shuffled his feet. "Stealing is a challenging offense, Amelia." Leaning so far through the doorway, the younger Yautja was practically in the room.

"You wish to fight me for the Yaut Hound?" Amelia asked, surprised. Raz'ha intended to dispose of the animal.

"Pets cannot fight in a challenge. Val'jek must as your owner. Your crime is his crime," Mah'sic hissed.

Amelia frowned then glared at Mah'sic. "Then let him challenge Val'jek. Raz'ha will be the loser." She got up. Now she really wanted to close the door in their faces.

"No challenge." Raz'ha used passable English and it irritated her. Even the warrior was learning faster than she did. The warrior trilled at her, questioning. He shifted to see her better as she moved deeper to the corner of the room.

Amelia ignored the two Yautja in her doorway as she settled the pets on a cushion. She considered the alien animal. It really was like a puppy to her. She rummaged through her supplies as her new pets sniffed and explored the large pillow.

She needed to make them a bed or pen until they were bigger. They weren't very coordinated, still bobbing their heads and trembling as they walked. She wondered where their mothers were as they all looked small enough to still live on milk.

Amelia made a mental check list of preparations. Food, toys and bedding were needed. Research was necessary to figure out how to care for her alien puppy.

She laughed as a puppy slid off the pillow, face planting with a yelp on the metal floor. The Yaut Hound, a little more coordinated, slid down and jumped off. He fumbled a little on his hind leg.

The puppy was wiggling to his feet and the alien sniffed, pushing against the puppy's side.

The third puppy, the female with a white patch, called from on top the pillow. She was nervous being on the edge, as if it was a great height and not a few inches.

The alien and male puppy called back, lifting their front paws to the pillow. They reached up and the female leaned down. She slid with a whine, right into the alien. They landed in a heap, fumbling to their feet.

Amelia laughed and emptied out a box. She would need Val'jek to secure something better suited but tonight they would be safe in the open storage container. She dragged the pillow toward the door, allowing Mah'sic and Raz'ha could see her easier. The gesture was the only courtesy she'd give them, and only because it scored points with Val'jek. Her mate was a stickler for safety measures.

She scooped up her pets and settled on the cushion. They sniffed her and mewled. Amelia thought they were hungry but there was nothing to feed them in her room. She tugged the string holding her hair back and dangled it in front of the puppies.

The puppies sniffed and pawed the string while she twirled it. They followed the string as she dragged it over the pillow, just out of their reach. Amused, Amelia had thought string only worked on cats.

The alien watched with rapt attention. No matter how she enticed him to play the hound didn't take the bait. His head cocked and she laughed. He looked very much like a Yautja when he considered the string. He wiggled with excitement as she teased him.

When he still did not try for the string, Amelia lured in the other puppies. They pounced and chased readily. Because their Tails still too short to wag, their butts wiggled with their excitement.

Letting out a wimpy rasp of a war cry, the alien sprung, tackling the string. Tail wagging with excitement, he ripped the hair ribbon from her hand. Keeping the string well away from her, the hound brought it to the puppies. The alien plopped down with the string between the male and female.

The puppies chewed on it and Amelia laughed again. The alien was too cute.

She picked up the string, tugging it from the puppies' mouths. They struggled but were no match for her.

The alien latched onto the end of the string and she tugged but he tugged back. Amelia heard the Yautja behind her click with a flutter of commotion. She ignored them.

"He may bite you," Mah'sic warned from behind her.

"He is playing." She was confident as they played tug of war with the string. The hound didn't flare his mandibles or make any aggressive moves. She might be mistaken but happy body language seemed universal. Her Yaut Hound wagged his tail, huffed and snuffled happily. The animal tugged and then relented when he expected Amelia to tug.

The male puppy gnawed on the string and the female pawed it, oblivious to the tug of war. The Yaut Hound fumbled on his lame leg and Amelia's tug dragged him down on his belly. His jaws stayed locked on the string.

"Oh, poor thing," Amelia cooed. She rubbed the alien's back as the puppies took up tugging the string.

The alien flipped over and his mandibles spread wide. He latched onto her finger tip again. He suckled her finger. Blunt claws wrapped around her hand, keeping her secure in his mouth. She lifted him, amused.

Raz'ha's meaty arm locked around her and he grabbed the Yaut Hound.

"Hey," Amelia cried as Raz'ha pried the hound from her hand. "Don't!"

Amelia grabbed at Raz'ha's hand, trying to pry his claws open. It was a futile effort. Her heart pounded in her chest with fear. The warrior was strong enough to crush the puppy with ease.

"He didn't hurt me. He's hungry," Amelia insisted.

Raz'ha growled at her, sounding like an animal himself. The Yaut Hound cried out in a higher pitched yelp.

"You're hurting him," Amelia gasped out.


He was going to kill the poor hound and she didn't have the strength to stop it. Amelia desperately reached for Raz'ha, cupping his face. "Please, stop. Please, I'm begging you." Tears burned behind her eyes.

Raz'ha stilled.

She blinked up at him, daring to hope.

He let out a low purr, rumbling from his chest. His claws opened and the Yaut Hound wiggled, cowering.

Cautious, Amelia took the Yaut Hound from his open palm. She held the animal against her chest, cuddling him close. He trembled and wiggled. Sniffing her, the hound burrowed deeper in her hands. The alien puppy appeared frightened but all right.

Amelia looked up at Raz'ha, who was making a strange gesture with his mandibles. His left mandibles seemed to sag and the bottom right one tweaked outward. His finger touched her cheek, wiping at a tear that escaped.

Her nose had started to run and she sniffled. Knowing the Yautja was going to be just as curious with her snot, she tried to keep any from escaping.

Raz'ha rubbed the wet drop between his fingers before putting it in his mouth. Definitely not a good time for a runny nose. She sniffled again, just in case.

Raz'ha clicked something, then added, in English, "Sad?"

"For the Yaut Hound." Amelia nodded.

Raz'ha clicked something to Mah'sic, who lingered in the doorway still.

"He thought the Yaut Hound was attacking," Mah'sic translated. "We both did."

"He's trying to suckle, not use his teeth." Amelia shook her head, irritated. The hound didn't really have teeth, just blunt nubs that felt rather rubbery on her skin. "Could you get him something to eat?"

Mah'sic nodded and disappeared.

"You scared him." Amelia sighed at Raz'ha, subdued. The other puppies pawed into her lap. Curious about Raz'ha, but not brave enough to paw over to him, they stretched their necks for a better sniff. Amelia pet the puppies with one hand, coddling the Yaut Hound with the other.

"Gifts." Raz'ha spoke in his language. He nudged the female in her lap toward her.

"Thank you for them, but it doesn't mean I'll let you kill this one," Amelia admonished, petting the Yaut Hound.

Raz'ha clicked and nodded.

"It wouldn't be fair to keep him without compensating you." She didn't want him taking the hound back and compensating the Yautja would prevent such a disaster.

"Trade." Raz'ha used mimicry. He made himself comfortable on the floor, stretching out and pressing too close to her. She felt his body heat along her side.

"I will give you something of comparable value for him." Amelia assured quickly, distracting herself from his warmth.

Raz'ha nodded.

"What is a Yaut Hound baby slated for death worth?" Amelia asked.

Raz'ha held his index and thumb fingers an inch apart, indicating he thought the pup was worth little.

"One man's junk is another man's treasure." She shrugged, cuddling the alien hound.

Raz'ha seemed to give it thought before nodding.

"Since you are here, does anything interest you?" she asked, gesturing to her studio. She kept most of her paintings lined against the wall.

Raz'ha nodded and pressed his hand to the center of her chest. The giant clawed hand spanned from the swell of her breasts to the base of her throat, pooling warmth in the area.

"That is called prostitution and it is a crime." Amelia laughed, though she should have been offended. She tugged his hand away.

Raz'ha snorted and shook his head. He tapped his chest with his fist and bowed his head to her. Amelia didn't quite understand the gesture but knew it was some sign of affection, or perhaps respect.

"I paint." A wave of shyness came over her upon sharing her passion with the warrior.

"Paint?" Raz'ha used mimicry again.

"The skins on the walls. I make the pictures on them. Perhaps you see one you like, or I can make one just for you," Amelia offered. The gesture had merit for the gifts he had brought her.

Raz'ha nodded and leaned closer to her. His mandibles opened, spreading wide.

Her belly fluttered. She was nervous but leaned forward, accepting the gesture. This was definitely a sign of affection and mating interest. Raz'ha's mandibles closed over her face, nervously fluttering over her cheeks and jaw. The trick was to remain still and let the Yautja figure out where he was putting his tusks. A tusk jabbed her ear and she laughed despite the sting.

His mandibles settled and she inched closer to plant a chaste kiss on his chin-like jaw.

He purred for a moment but cut it off again. She was grateful since she didn't intend to mate with him. Prostitution wasn't appealing to her.

His mandibles tightened and she gave him a second dry kiss to the more sensitive area of his inner flesh. The puppies were worth it and the gesture was no true hardship.

She tugged back and he let her go. Amelia looked up at him, seeing his mandibles closed and tilting up in a repressed cocky smile. The expression was the Yautja version of it anyway.

Amelia hid her smile, looking down at her puppies. She settled the alien puppy down with the human puppies as they were all settling down. She pet them absently.

"Here, pet them, like this." Amelia took his lax hand. He let her guide him to the closest puppy. She rubbed his hand down the puppy's back. The male wiggled his butt in appreciation.

"That means he's happy. He likes your attention." Amelia nodded her approval.

Raz'ha purred at the puppy and she placed the male in his hand. "Remember to be gentle." She spoke softly, warmed by his purring.

The warrior curled his fingers and pet with his other hand. One finger really, as his hand was so large and the puppy so small.

"He's cute, isn't he?" She tried to make small talk.

Raz'ha shook his head, no.

"Well for a puppy he is. For a Yaut Hound, he's probably ugly," Amelia agreed. "Is my Yaut Hound cute? Apart from the leg, I mean. I have never seen one."

Raz'ha shook his head, no. He held up his hand and made the little gesture again.

"He's the runt of the litter?" she asked.

Raz'ha nodded.

"Perhaps he won't grow so large then," she speculated.

Raz'ha laughed, a deep rasping bark sound, making the puppies mewl and sniff at him again.

"They go by smells. It helps them get to know you if you hold your hand out like this." Amelia held her hand in front of the female puppy in her lap.

He mimicked her motion. The puppy licked Raz'ha and he jerked back.

"It's a friendly gesture," she assured.

He said something and she shrugged, having no idea.

Mah'sic returned with two shallow bowls. He cocked his head to the side, looking from her to Raz'ha and back.

"Food?" Amelia asked, cheeks burning. She was caught being friendly with the warrior.

Mah'sic nodded. He waited at the door.

"Come in." Amelia motioned him over.

Mah'sic brought her the bowls. "All three can eat it. The extra nutrition won't harm your pets. The Yaut Hound will eat more and may be territorial," he warned. He clicked to Raz'ha and Raz'ha tensed, waiting for something.

Amelia set the bowls on the floor, letting the curious animals watched. Raz'ha put the puppy down and she moved the others to their bowls. They all greedily drank after a sniff.

Raz'ha watched the Yaut Hound carefully.

"Your blood pressure is down," Mah'sic commented.

Amelia nodded. "Pets lower blood pressure and make humans live a little longer."

"Why? How?" Mah'sic perked up at the new revelation.

"I'm not sure. A stress reliever, maybe." Amelia shrugged. They watched the puppies lap at their milk.

Biting her lip, Amelia considered her alien puppy. She needed a way to secure the Yaut Hound. Something more than batting her eyes and insisting she wanted him was required. "Would a Yaut Hound make a good guard dog?" she asked.

Raz'ha nodded and spoke. She picked out a handful of words this time, since he spoke slower for her. "With training?" She confirmed the gist of it. The warrior nodded again.

"Yaut Hounds are intelligent. If trained properly, a hound will kill or defend upon command," Mah'sic chirped.

"Will you help me name them, Raz'ha?" Amelia moved on, having secured an arguing point.

"Name them?" Raz'ha struggled with the English words.

"You gave them to me. I would be honored if you helped me give them names." She tried to ignore Mah'sic's head tilting to the side as he watched her. She hoped he didn't voice whatever he was curious about. She was in a good mood and Mah'sic had a talent for putting his foot in his mouth.

The warrior nodded and trilled.

"Perhaps you should wait to name them. You may get attached and if Val'jek refuses to house them-" Mah'sic stopped abruptly as Raz'ha growled.

Amelia hadn't considered that. Val'jek had no pets when there were lots of exotic pets on the ship. What if he was allergic? Amelia gave a weak smile and hoped for the best. She wanted to keep her pets. "I want to name them now." She leveled her gaze on her potential mate.

Raz'ha clicked his mandibles together, surveying her. He nodded, eyes shining with desire.

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