Chiva

Hello there darlings. I'd just like to take a moment to put my thoughts about this chapter down.

I know that my grammar can be a little congested at times, but I really hope it doesn't take away from the story. I tried my best for this chapter to be exciting. In this excerpt I was aiming for my readers to go wild, like when J.F.K. accidentally told the Germans that he was a donut. You remember that? They just went crazy! Of course, we all know that's not what he was 'trying' to say, but at least he got a good reaction. :P

Thank you all for continuing to read, you're truly wonderful. Muse of Scrolls, shortest_warrior, Keen and Lord Zain, you guys are absolutely amazing and I'm really touched that you're still reading and reviewing. Thank you Fadaway Blonde for your advice, and thank you OrangePeelings and Death God Dist for your encouragement. ^_^

Words for you!

Ell-osde: You
S'yuit-de: Coward, pathetic, low and demeaning description
Lou-dte Kalei: Child maker (female Yautja, male insult)
Pauk-de: Fucking or fucker (just in case you didn't want to look back if you forgot)

Remember everyone; Ich bin ein Berliner!

Enjoy!


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“There’s nothing to talk about…” Anthea mocked under her breath while the cold water from the cliff caressed her parched skin. When her hair was dry it reached to the small of her back, now that it was wet the tips reached just past her buttocks. She swept her hair over one shoulder and worked her fingers through the wet tangles with frustration. “You’re so stupid, Kro.” She mumbled again, still untangling her hair.

Her things were all set on top a dry surface near the waterfall. She didn’t have to worry about anything disturbing her bath this time; she and Kro had scouted the area before they split ways. Kro’nha only told her to be careful before he disappeared back into the clutter of trees and greenery.

He was just as pleased as she was at hearing Syt’ka’s words of truce. Why did his mood turn so sour from her question? Wasn’t this new development a good thing? She leaned her head back and let the water trickle over her face. Maybe it wasn’t a good thing…

She’d obviously struck a nerve when she opened her mouth earlier. It worried her now; she didn’t want him to hate her. Why ‘had’ he gotten angry, though? He was the one who’d awoken these feelings within her, both times! It was all his fault. If it wasn’t for what he’d started, she’d never started feeling this way.

Once her hair was clean and untangled, she tossed it back over her shoulder and slowly ran her hands over her breasts and down her belly. Ah, the water was so relaxing. Her hands stopped at her thighs and a light in her mind suddenly turned on.

The day after her final adolescent trial, Kro sat with her in bed. She remembered the way she touched his leg and the words that came shortly after.

“My illusion?” She whined quietly under the water. What kind of illusion was that to begin with anyway? She obviously hadn’t realized how her feelings were changing until just lately, so why did she say such a thing back then when such feelings were still so deeply buried? Was it her subconscious? Maybe because she was so sleepy then…

Kro’nha stood a good distance away from the waterfall. He tossed the remains of the naxa to the ground as he leaned against the trunk of a large tree. He watched Anthea from where she stood, not saying a word. Watching her hands run down her delicate frame made his body respond in a shiver of anticipation. This feeling inside of him was new, he didn’t quite know what to do with himself, but his limbs were already slowly prowling forward. He clenched his fists before putting his mask on. Back at the cove he didn’t have time to watch her as he did now.

Seeing the cold water tumble across her naked body only teased his senses, so much so that he was nearly unaware to the fact that he was still moving forward, slowly but surely.

Greenery rustled in the distance and Anthea snapped her head in the direction of the noise. She wrapped her arms around her breasts as her heartbeat quickened. She peered ahead but saw nothing. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she reassured herself. There was nothing out there this time; she’d double checked. This was just her imagination taking over now. The low rumble of a voice sounded in the distance and her posture stiffened, her arms tightening over her breasts. The sound actually frightened her, not necessarily because it was scary, but because it was a tone she hadn’t heard before. It sounded primal and somehow ardent; a very intimidating sound.

His cloaking device concealed his position as he saw her snap to attention. His excitement overwhelmed him as he saw the small glint of fear in her eyes. He consciously stalked around the water, circling his prey with a new kind of hunger. The hunter within him took him over quickly, that ultimate thrill boiling his blood and overriding his system as he excitedly watched the apprehensive girl try to detect her prowler.

She was being stalked, she could feel it. Her aura felt completely invaded, and she wasn’t sure yet if this presence was something dangerous or…! Anthea’s eyes widened at this new realization. Was it Kro? She was still worried, but somehow, the notion of his presence brought her an abrupt and wild excitement. Was he really watching her?

Slowly, she unfolded her arms and let them drop to her sides. The water still hit her, and now she leaned her head back and trailed her fingers up her stomach. She rang out her hair before swiping it over her shoulder like earlier, acting as if all was well again. For that split second she was stopped by cold feet. She took deep and panicked breaths, her chest visibly heaving as her mind raced. She’d never been so bold in her life. Should she really continue?

Kro’nha sucked in a breath, holding it for the moment until she finally laid her hands over her bare breasts. He let out a low and steady rumble, pleased with what he saw. She groped her breasts for a moment before letting her hands roam lower. Oh, she knew he was there. She was blatantly enticing him; an unspoken persuasion to come forth.

Anthea still couldn’t see him, but she definitely heard his enthusiastic response. It excited her more than anything now, some untamed part of herself keeping this game of cat and mouse going. She could hear the small splashes the shallow water gave as he stepped forward and her heart pounded. Where was he? She turned around to catch a glimpse of him, but he was nowhere to be found.

Anthea gasped in surprise as her wrist was seized and brought behind her back. She tilted her head back and watched as the cloaking device slowly malfunctioned from the water until he was visible. With his free hand, he touched her flat stomach and violently pulled her back. Her back crashed against his chest and while both her wrists were bound by his overpowering grip, her naturally terrified and instinctively fervent sides fought for dominance.

He could easily hear her heartbeat racing and he keenly watched her ample breasts heave with every eager breath she took. She defiantly jerked against his grip and he tightened his right hand around her coupled wrists. The tips of his claws slowly trailed their way up her stomach; stopping at the body parts he eyed the most. He drew lazy circles around her erect nipple and she bit her lip. He brazenly nicked her sensitive flesh and the girl whimpered, leaning her head against his chest with tightly closed eyes. She was suddenly giving off a new scent, one that overwhelmed his senses and brought about a scent of his own.

Her nipple dribbled lightly from her fresh cut, the tiny trail of crimson quickly washing away with the flowing water. The pain excited her, even more so the fact that he caused it. The sweet scent of musk filled her nostrils that moment, and she knew what it was. Finally he touched her breast, groping her forcefully, though not enough to hurt her. She moaned and arched her back against him, that musk still overwhelming her senses and exciting her even more.

Kro’nha couldn’t hide his excitement any longer as her back moved against his erect member. Her bound hands reached back to touch his stomach and his grip loosened a bit. Her delicate hands found what they were looking for and his knees nearly buckled from the sensation she started to give him. He let go of her hands and reached for her other breast, now messaging them both. He trilled softly in her ear while her hands moved fluidly against him.

Anthea reveled in her actions, but what would be better now, she thought, was if his loincloth was removed. That’s right, she remembered. He was still fully clothed, wasn’t he? She prepared to turn but he stopped her, his right hand now traveling past her stomach to rest between her legs. That familiar feeling she’d experienced so many times before quickly amplified and filled her gut. Her cheeks burned with color before he even twitched a finger.

His middle finger caressed her inner thigh before pressing lightly past her lips to her warm and moist sex. She moaned louder than before, her grip against his erection tightening lightly which produced an interesting reaction of his own.

“Kro…” Her voice was helplessly pleading and it was obvious what she wanted. He trilled softly in her ear, almost egging her on. The way she spoke his name nearly drove him over the edge. He wanted to make her say it again. Kro’nha gently teased the small fleshy knot with the tip of the same finger and the girl nearly lost all strength in her limbs. “Kro’nha!” Her pleading tone was much more eager now and he decided to finally end her torture.

Anthea’s fingers found the waist of Kro’nha’s loincloth and his motions to please her slowed. He looked away from her for a split second, suddenly feeling ill at ease. The girl turned around to look up at his masked face.

“I want to see your face, Kro.” She spoke gently. His hands rested over her shoulders now, and even though he was looking straight at her, he didn’t hear what she said. She was still in the moment and hadn’t taken this as strange. Anthea carefully tugged at the leather ties that held his loincloth together and a second before she’d undone the first elaborate knot, he stopped her. The female hunter eyed him curiously and with a bit of concern.

“What’s wrong?” She wondered and placed her hands on his chest. He gently took her hands in his and placed them back at her sides. She was truly puzzled now, and she subconsciously quirked her head in question.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.” Kro’nha finally answered without emotion.

“What do you mean?” Her features slowly became vexed.

“… I can’t.” He said, sounding nearly as surprised as she was. Before she posed her next obvious question, he continued. “I have a responsibility to Ko’tak. My duty is to protect and watch over you. I’m supposed to be your guardian, not your mate.” His tone was lucid and detached as he made his explanation. “Besides,” he went on, “I am Yautja and you are O--”

“I’m what?” Anthea nearly shouted. “Ooman? I am every bit as Yautja as you are, and the only difference that stops you is the shade of my skin and the features on my face!” The angry girl marched over to her things and quickly slithered into her wire mesh. Kro’nha cast his eyes to the side as she finished dressing. She carelessly bound her hair and snapped her wrist blades over her forearm, tucking her staff and mask away. She marched back over to the Yautja and pushed him back a step. “Am I too soft for you, Kro’nha? Are you afraid you’ll break me in half?” She was fuming now. He tried to defend himself but she wasn’t finished yet.

They walked quickly through the trees, Kro’nha stomping angrily ahead of the girl that pestered him from behind.

“If I recall correctly, ‘you’ pursued ‘me’!” She shouted at his back. He stopped suddenly and spun around. He invaded her space as he approached her and she took one incensed step back.

He growled at her in warning, flaring his mandibles behind his mask. She firmly held her place on front of him.

“Don’t think you can scare me with that growl! You stalked me, you touched me, you caressed me, and you held me against you. I could ‘feel’ you. So what the pauk am I supposed to think?! This is all your fault you brute!”

“You made your intentions known to me long before I fell…” Her eyes widened as she speculated and found she was eager for him to finish his words.

“What?” She asked impatiently. “Say it, damn it!” He fell silent again and she clenched her fists at her sides.

“Why won’t you tell me anything?!” Her anger echoed through the trees. “Be truthful to me! Tell me the real reason behind your hesitance! Why won’t you let me in? I know it’s not all because of what father expects of you!” Kro’nha took a deep breath to steady his temper but it wasn’t helping. After a few moments of congested silence Anthea pursed her lips as she felt her eyes well. “You haven’t even taken your mask off this entire time. Look at me!” The desperation in her final words almost had him reaching to his face, but he stayed still. His mandibles clicked now and then in much regard and thought. How could he make her understand? This was a box that should not have been opened.

She rapidly blinked away her tears and threw her hands up to distract him from her face. “Fine…” she surrendered as she lowered her head to cover her face. Breathing in the oxygen her mask produced made her lungs feel less constricted but did nothing for her emotions. She eyed him through her infrared and cried freely and soundlessly. Anthea found their closeness to be stifling now and she took a few sizable steps back to breathe.

His heart sank at all of this. He wouldn’t let her know though; he wouldn’t give away a thing. It was easy to falsify his expressions as this was something he’d been raised to do. But right now, for the first time in his life, saving face was difficult. He had to make her understand why this couldn’t be. Kro’nha turned his back to her and slowly took a step.

Her tears streamed as she watched him slowly leave her. ‘Damn it…’ She thought, the voice in her mind as distressed as she was. ‘I just want him to look at me!’ “Kro wait, please.” She begged as her voice cracked. She reached forward and took a small step forward.

He kept his back to her and purposefully ignored her plea. The leaves in the high trees rustled noisily and the sound of dead weight crashing to the earth forced him to look back. Something shimmered in her face and a familiar but haunting voice spoke to her. “I’m here for you, my sweet.” As soon as the sentence was finished an uncloaked Tal’lik stood before her. Before she could make a move, the Yautja’s staff smashed against her face and sent her to floor. Sooner than Kro’nha could think, Tal’lik kicked at his chin which hurled Kro backward, and as he crashed to a landing the earth gave way beneath him.

Tal’lik hovered over the edge of the cavity in the earth, he was a good sixty feet above Kro who now struggled to his feet. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” The hateful warrior said casually, “My pet will keep you company though. In the mean time, I have a date.” Kro’nha growled at his retreating enemy but silenced as another growl accompanied him from behind.

The black and gray striped tiger reached the Yautja’s shoulders in height. Its hollow white eyes stared at him hungrily and the feline licked its chops. “Dumb beast,” Kro’nha said confidently, “you don’t know what you’re in for.” He bared his wrist blades and poised himself for attack. Anthea’s desperate and panicked scream stripped him of all concentration and he looked to the surface, something in him suddenly frantic. He forgot the threat behind him and hurried to scale the wall of earth and root. The soil was too loose though and he quickly fell to the bottom with a thud and the animal immediately pounced at the panicked young blood.

Kro’nha rolled away quickly and caught the jaws of the mighty cat with one hand at the top jaw and the other at the bottom to keep the animal from biting his face. The tiger pushed down on Kro’nha with all its strength, digging its claws deep into the earth for leverage. Kro’nha knew this would be over very quickly if he could not regain his footing.

“Ell-osde pauk-de s’yuit-de Lou-dte Kalei!” Tal’lik snarled as he marched over to his victim. The ringing in Anthea’s ears nearly drowned out the Yautja’s scathing insult. She slowly rose to all fours and tried to still her spinning vision.

“On all fours, like a mutt.” He snarled. “Perhaps I should treat you like the bitch you are.” He finished his statement as he grasped his loincloth. Panic was the only emotion that graced Anthea’s hidden face as she eyed his vulgar gesture. Tal’lik reached down with a grasping hand, Anthea went to kick him in the midsection but Tal’lik caught her ankle and raised her off the ground. “Haha, kicking at me like a child!” Tal’lik spun the girl around in a circle and slammed her into the trunk of a nearby tree, stealing what little breath she could muster. “Pathetic!” He grabbed Anthea’s burgundy locks and snapped her head back, wasting no time in incessantly pummeling her into silence.

The great feline had the young blood pinned, no matter what Kro’nha could think to do, no matter what he tried; he couldn’t push the cat back. All was seemed to be gradually slipping away from him; thoughts of him and Anthea together, thoughts of a memorable return from their hard meat trials, thoughts of him possibly getting the chance to be close to her again. All seemed to be drowning in this black hole of teeth and claws. He could hear from high above a loud bash against a tree, and the breathless scream of a young girl.

The fumes of emotion in his heart, the confusion over what was love and what was lust was all narrowed into the spark of a great inferno which brought forth a rage, a primal rage and Kro’nha pushed the cat back with his legs, the tiger crashed against the wall. From his back, he kicked his legs out and flipped onto his feet. Kro’nha extended his wrist blades and roared louder than anything the enormous cat or its vindictive master had ever heard before.

The tiger landed on its feet from the wall and crouched down for a final pounce, and all at once the tiger and the young blood lashed out at each other in a grand leap. Using every bit of anger and rage, he threw his wrist blades into the cat. His mandibles flared in blind fury and his roar drowned the gruesome sound of shattering bones and a gurgling whimper.

The girl was limp and battered beneath him now, her mask cracked from his final blow, and a chunk of her faceplate from forehead to cheekbone fell to the forest floor, but he wouldn’t let it end here. He reached down and ferociously clenched her windpipe to drag her across the way. Anthea feebly grasped his forearm, choking as she struggled for air. She sank into the hole her partner fell into but was held suspended over the edge.

“Look at her, Kro’nha!” He shouted down the hole. Kro’nha shot his gaze heavenward and his golden eyes widened in utter shock. Anthea’s still and battered frame dangled vulnerably from his powerful grip. “I’ll deal with you once I’m done stripping the flesh from her bones.” He teased with a sadistic enthusiasm in his voice. Tal’lik’s grip tightened around her throat and she suddenly writhed and thrashed against him, her suffocated sniveling reverberating in Kro’s ears. Her skin paled as her struggling began to diminish.

“Anthea!” Kro’nha cried her name as he reached for her. “Fight!” He now roared to her in command as he found himself out of options. Tal’lik grinned and touched her lower abdomen with his wrist blades, drawing a fresh trail of blood as he worked the tips to her ribcage.

“I don’t think she can hear you.” He pointed out and then shrugged. “Oh well, she is Ooman, after all.” Kro growled up at him and discreetly reached into his wristband.

“You underestimate her, bad blood. It will be your undoing.” He scathed and then thrust his arm at the other Yautja. The silver glint of a small blade soared through the air and swiped through a lock of the warrior’s hair as he dodged the weapon. In his distraction Anthea’s eyes shot open and she thrust her wrist blades into his gut as hard as her strength would allow.

Tal’lik howled in excruciating agony and fell back, taking the girl with him. Anthea yanked her blades from his gut as soon as his vice-like grip on her throat lessened. She gasped like she’d never taken a breath in her life, coughing on her way to her feet.
Kro lost sight of the two when they fell away and anxiously looked for any signs of movement. The battered girl staggered over to the trap and sank to her knees, peering over the edge for Kro’nha.

“What are you doing?!” He shouted up at her, all of his self control gone. “Run!!” She hurried back to her feet, groaning in reaction to the pain in her stomach.

“Please Kro’nha,” she sobbed painfully, “stay safe.” And she ran. His fists trembled with a mixture of unbridled emotions, he was so angry he could hardly see straight. Kro’nha crouched down as he looked up, harnessing all of his strength to his limbs. With a grunt and a powerful thrust of his legs he hurled himself up, just barely reaching the surface of the opening. He thrust his claws and toes into the earth, refusing to let himself slip as he climbed swiftly over the top.

He jumped to his feet and scoured the area for Tal’lik, but he was gone. The screen before his eyes locked onto a familiar heat signature. ‘Thank you Paya,’ he thought with relief. ‘Her trail hasn’t run cold.’ His head quirked to one side as something in the grass caught his attention. He got closer and all over again, he was worried. ‘No…’ He picked up a shard of Anthea’s mask, tiny crimson spots scattered across the metal. He quickly tucked it away and sprinted in the direction she’d left.

Anthea found herself back at the cliff, slumped against a bolder behind the falling water. Her gasps were sporadic and gluttonous; her throat still ached from inside and out. The sheer will to stay alive kept her from giving up. A single drop of water fell from above and plopped against one of the two large lacerations across her stomach and she arched her back with an indignant hiss. Her wounds were bleeding heavily and she was losing strength, but she couldn’t rest just yet.

“There’s no use in hiding, girl.” Tal’lik called to her from outside of the falls, knowing exactly where she hid. He cackled as a thought came to light. “So your true human nature finally comes out, does it not?” For once he didn’t use the slang term for her kind. “I suppose you can’t help it though, can you?” His tone of voice was deliberately impertinent and self-righteous. “Maybe after I kill you and your friend, I’ll teach that elder of yours a lesson and mount your heads on my wall.”

If he was looking for a nerve to strike in the girl, he hit every last one. She forced herself to her feet and faced the flowing water before her. Tal’lik was on the other side, simply waiting. Anthea yanked her staff from the holster and the ends extended before she sounded a drawn out and livid war cry.

Tal’lik smirked, knowing he’d baited her perfectly. “Challenge accepted.” He mumbled to himself.

Appearing downstream a few hundred yards away, Syt’ka came into the clearing. On the other side of the river, he saw a familiar face in Ko’tak, who apparently was running in the same direction. Syt’ka quickly caught up to his old friend and they stopped as they saw the two engaged in combat.

“I gave no command for such an action, Ko’tak. Your daughter and Kro’nha repaid their debt to my clan by returning a young child that had been snatched by a wolf. Tal’lik has gone against my words, he has tarnished his blood.”

Ko’tak could barely hear Syt’ka’s words over the concerns that were mounting in his mind.

Their staves rang out with each hit, filling all the forest with the cries of combat. She came at him with all she could, striking with her staff, planting it and swinging from her weapon before kicking him in the chest. Tal’lik smoothly countered and parried her blows, but when the young blood used her staff and spun around it with such momentum; he could in no way hope to block such a devastating blow, and was forcefully hurled back up the waterfall. She leaped at him again and growled in an instinctively primal manner. They traded blows as they fought their way to the top of the falls. One hundred fifty feet they fought, up the rocks and the water. Finally reaching a large bolder in the center of the falls that was wide and flat.

Finally catching up and standing at the base of the falls, Kro’nha stood gaping and breathless at the display above him. Never before had he seen Anthea fight with such fury, move with such fine agility; now he saw a glimmer of hope that his love could conquer this bad blood.

Tal’lik laughed menacingly. “I get it; you think you stand a chance. You think you can win! Well listen here, you filthy Ooman bitch! You are ‘nothing’ compared to me! Your companion is nothing compared to me. Your father is nothing comp--”

“FUCK YOU!” Anthea bull rushed Tal’lik, launching a series of attacks that had the veteran off balance and without sheer footing. Tal’lik managed to swat away her staff, taking it from her hands. But she went into a spin, braced her hands underneath her and twirled around in a series of kicks, catching him in the back of the knee, in the groin, and in the kidneys, lastly in the chin before flipping upright. As Tal’lik dropped to one knee, she grabbed him by his uneven locks and forcefully drove her knee into his mask. She extended her wrist blades and Tal’lik went to lash at her once more, but she grabbed him by the throat and she raised him to his feet. “Who’s the Lou-dte Kalei now? You pathetic excuse for a Yautja!” She reared her arm back, preparing to strike him down but she halted.

“Do it!” He taunted. “Strike me down. Do it!”

“Your bad blood is not worthy enough for the honor of my blades into your heart.” And she dropped him back to his knees and turned away. Tal’lik jumped to his feet and prepared to strike at her vulnerable spine.

“ANTHEA!” Kro’nha screamed in despair, but before his cry died, Anthea quickly turned and drove her blades deep into this haunting bad blood’s tainted heart and then released him off the fall. Tal’lik’s body fell limp one hundred and fifty feet and crashed into the wake at the bottom of the falls.