Fuzzies

Useful info;



Pronunciations:



Veriea: Verr-ree-a(i)



Ver’ei’a: Veh-e-ah



Forenien: For-en-ee-en



Vocabulary:



Kainde Amedha: hard meat/ xenomorph



Gaun-Thwei: night blood



Chiva: trial/ test



Setg’in kwei: tricky/ quick



Pyode Amedha: soft meat/ human (ooman)



Yeyinde: brave one



Pauk: fuck



Ell-osde c’jit: damn you



C’jit: damn/ shit/ general expletive



Pauk’de: fucking/ fucker



Hulij-bpe: crazy



Mei’hswei: brother (also use between close companions/clan mates)



Kerhite: training ground/training ring



Jehdin-jehdin: hand-to-hand combat (one-on-one)



Zazin: self-centered



Thwei’tek: blood bond (used to fuse strands of hair into dreadlocks)



M-di’h’dlak: no fear



Naxa: a kind of fruit from the Yautja home world



Thwei: blood



Sy’ua: wow/whoa (you get the idea)



Jehdin Jehdin: one on one/ hand to hand combat



Lou-dte kalei: child maker/female (usually a derogatory term)



Kantra: prayer



Kict’pa: wrist blades



Awu’asa: armor



Enjoy the story ; P



= Chapter 8 – Of Pelts and Nightmares =



Veriea was distracted by everything around her.



It was all so bright and colourful and confusing.



And she drew quite a few stares herself.



“Come on, Ver’ei’a’ka’cha.” H’ak’e’cha rapped his knuckles on the top of her head to get her attention, earning him a growl. That was the sixth time he had done that.



“If you keep doing that, I’m going to maim you.” She snarled but kept moving to catch up with the rest of the group.



The market place was packed with yautja of every colour, pattern, shape, size and profession – as well as every variety of goods and services – she could imagine. In particular she noticed that the large pelts of blue, white and violet-striped furs seemed to be especially prized; if the haggling being done over them was any indication.



“They’re Ch’pek’t pelts; the fiercest and most vicious beasts on the planet. Their meat is highly prized and the blood had many uses. They’re so strong that no one has ever taken one down with less than four in a hunting party – six for a female – and no one has every seen their young; some say they are demons, made fully grown from the moment of birth, even if they bleed well enough. Very intelligent things, they are, too – though, of course, the kainde amedha are still a better hunt.” H’ak’e’cha said, noticing where her wandering attention had gone and bringing it back to the group as they stopped, finding a good location to set up. “And you wouldn’t maim me.” He added smugly, answering her earlier threat.



“And why’s that?” Veriea challenged, tapping her foot in agitation.



He leaned down, grinning from crest to crest as he whispered in her ear;



“I know where your ‘sweet spot’ is.” He clattered, almost evilly, tickling the spot behind her left ear and then dancing away to avoid getting her claws in his face.



“G’re’e’cha!” She snarled, storming towards the unsuspecting yautja.



“What?” He looked up from what he was doing only to get swiped across the face, Veriea’s claws leaving 4 brilliant green slashes across his cheek. “Pauk! What was that for!” He cursed, rising to his full height menacingly.



“You told H’ak’e’cha about my spot!” She growled, undaunted.



Suddenly, G’re’e’cha looked a bit guilty and slouched back down.



“Oh. That.” He said with a sheepish grin.



“Yes that.” She spat.



“No reason to try and claw my face off.” He said sulkily.



“Oh, I think it’s a very good reason…” She growled, flexing her fingers threateningly, as if itching to hit him again.



“Well, now we have our demonstration.” H’ak’e’cha trilled, obviously pleased with the mayhem he had caused. Both Veriea and G’re’e’cha glared at him. “What? You probably wouldn’t have hit him unless you were mad at him.”



“Maybe I should hit you as well, more demonstrations?” Veriea said, not pleased to have been played.



“Nah, G’re’e will be enough.” He chuckled.



Veriea narrowed her eyes at him, her pupil contracting to slits.



Then she kicked him in the shin.



And the other three males doubled over laughing as H’ak’e’cha danced around holding his leg. “Pauk!” He growled, surprised at just how hard she could kick. “It’s not funny!” He snarled at G’re’e’cha, who was laughing so hard he was having trouble breathing.



“Are we going to start the demonstration soon then?” Veriea asked cheerfully, rather pleased now that she had gotten her own back on both offending males.



Still grumbling a little, though knowing he probably deserved it, H’ak’e’cha made his pitch to the crowds.



Veriea healed G’re’e’cha as demonstration of the service they were offering.



Then the Customers flooded in.



CCCCCCC



Veriea was very relieved when a message arrived for her telling her that her presence was required for her amour fitting. With promises to the crowd that she would return for more healing another day, she slipped away, following the directions she’d been given to a hut that reminded her very much of a medieval black smith’s.



As she approached, she heard someone roar in pain and quickly entered.



Veriea stealthily crept forward until she could see what was going on; two large males appeared to be forcefully negotiating with a very small female. The female’s upper left mandible and cheek were bleeding.



“Listen, runt!” One of the males barked angrily, “These pelts are more than worth the repairs.”



Veriea eyed the pelts in question. After spending half the day watching her friends haggle over items to be traded for her healing services, she knew that these males were trying to cheat this female big time, without even having to see the ‘repairs’; she wouldn’t have healed a sore pinky for those pelts.



“’Hese ‘hel’s are wor’hless!” (these pelts are worthless) The female hissed bravely, though her speech was marred quite a bit by the injured mandible.



The male raised his fist…



“Hey!” The males turned and she stepped forward. If there was one thing she loathed more than anything else, it was when a male tried to get his way by beating someone else up – particularly when it was a female or a smaller person – and especially when the one being beaten up was right. She had seen far too much of this behavior in her life, as well as being on the receiving end of it, for it not to rile her and she was not going to stand here and do nothing. “She’s right; those pelts are worthless, just like their owners.”



The males smirked.



“This is between us and the runt. Unless you want a beating as well, I suggest you leave now, pet.”



Ooooo. You did not just call me that.



“Is that a threat?” She asked lazily.



“Yes, it is.” The male growled.



“Well, in that case – “



Before they knew what was happening, Veriea had planted her hands on the ground between the two males and thrust upwards, gaining enough height to kick both males in their lower jaw (A/N: they don’t actually have chins, remember), snapping their heads back and then she tucked and rolled into a crouch between them and the female. “That was a warning, boys.” She growled.



The male who had been threatening her stepped forward menacingly, enraged but the other male grabbed his shoulder. He pointed at her and clicked something at his friend that was too soft for her to catch. With a snort from the first male, they turned and left.



Veriea relaxed and stood, dusting of her hands, glad she hadn’t actually had to fight them; she was weary from all the healing she had done. Not to mention that it had mostly been a bluff – she didn’t really think she could have taken on one of the males, let alone both. She turned to the female with a smile. “I hate it when males think they can pick on you just ‘cause you’re small.”



The female snorted in disgust.



Veriea assumed that was in agreement. “I’m –“



“I know who you are.” The female cut her off. “Why ‘ii’ you hel’ me?” (why did you help me?) She asked, staring at her piercingly.



“It was the honorable thing to do.” Veriea answered, wondering what she had done that was making the female yautja treat her as if she was as bad as the males who had been bullying her. “I’m sorry if I offended you or anything, but arrogant males piss me off and there seems to be an abundance of those here.”



The female smirked.



That’s better, Veriea thought as the female placed a hand on her shoulder.



“I’m Kain’e’a’ke’a. ‘Hank you for ‘heh hel’; ’hose ‘hoo always ‘hry ‘hoo ri’ me off.” (I’m Kainde’a’ke’a. Thank you for the help; those two always try to rip me off.) She moved away, walking amongst the piles of metal and Veriea noticed that her dreadlocks were speckled with grey, a sign that the female was older than she looked. “You’re here for your armor ‘hoo ‘ee fi’eh. Ihe’ll ‘ee ‘ifficul’ ‘eecause of your size and sha’e.” (You’re here for your armor to be fitted. It’ll be difficult because of your size and shape.) She called, sifting through the piles. “You go’ a yau’ja sha’e ‘un’ ‘heh size of an ooman. Goo’ ‘hing I’ve ma’eh armor for ‘hem ‘eefore.” (You’ve got a yautja shape but the size of an ooman. Good thing I’ve made armor for them before.) The female chatted happily, despite her injury and speech impediment.



“You’ve met oomans?” Veriea asked curiously, still quite surprised that humans had been accepted into this culture as she had.



“One ooman.” Kainde’a’ke’a answered. “Haven’ seen her for a long ‘hime ‘hough. I’ve only seen abou’ five in my ‘hime ‘uh’ ‘hree of ‘hose were pe’hs. I don’ ‘hink ‘hehere are any in ‘hiss ci’hy ‘hough, if you were ho’hing ‘hoo mee’h one.” (Haven’t see her for a long time though. I’ve only seen about five in my time but three of those were pets. I don’t think there are any in this city though, if you were hoping to meet one.)



“No, I’ve met enough humans to last me a life time.” Veriea said, looking around the place. The walls were covered in beautifully designed armor and weaponry, much of it intricately decorated. The female reappeared, holding a few pieces. “Do you make all this yourself?” Veriea asked.



“Yeah, don’ ge’h enough for i’h ‘hough.” She gingerly touched the wound on her cheek. “If I wasn’ so goo’ a’h wha’h I ‘oo, someone woul’h have ‘haken me ou’h a long ‘hime ago.” (Yeah, don’t get enough for it though. If I wasn’t so good at what I do, someone would have taken me out a long time ago.)



“Here, let me look at that.” Veriea said gently, thinking that she should have offered to do so earlier; it looked rather painful. Kainde’a’ke’a let her and was surprised when Veriea healed the injury.



“So the rumors are true.” The Teki’ke’a murmured, her speech no longer impaired, flexing the healed mandible.



“I suppose they are.” Veriea smiled as the female began taking her measurements and comparing some pieces against her arms. “Who’s paying for all this exactly?”



“The Elder, Ka’e’aka. Usually un-bloods will get their own before the Kainde Amedha Chiva because they need to train with it and only very little and not quite as good as this lot but I suppose this is a special case.” Kainde’a’ke’a chuckled. “You’ll be able to take most of your weapons and equipment today but you’ll have to come back tomorrow for you kict’pa and to get your awu’asa cast; they’ll need to be customized to you. Your mask and computer might take up to a week or so though. No mask shape I have will fit you with those ears and because you don’t have mandibles, we’ll have to rearrange the controls that normally go in the mask.”



“You sound like you really know what you’re doing.” Veriea commented.



“Of course,” She responded. “I’m one of the best.”



CCCCCCC



>



She was running.



All around her everything was in flames, explosions nearby sending shrapnel flying though the air, a dull roaring in her ears.



Ahead of her a large, silver, winged form ran.



“Hurry Veriea!” It yelled over its shoulder. Something behind them exploded and she felt the pain in her chest.



She fell, crying out.



The figure ahead of her turned back, started towards her but the roof fell in, separating them. The figure roared in fury and started to fight through the debris. Another, black, winged figure tried to tug the first away. It’s voice floated through her mind as if far, far away.



“Come on Silva! She’s gone!”



She called out and heard the other figure roar.



“NO! She’s still alive! We can save her!”



They eventually moved away and Veriea clawed at the pain in her chest. She called for Silva, lost in the pain.



Then the blackness took over and she heard herself screaming.



In a burst of white, she came back, the scream still on her lips, a darker form hanging over her as darkness spread as far as she could see.



“S-Silva?” She stammered, the ache in her chest easing.



“No.” The form laughed. “That one got away with your other friends…but we still have you.”



She tried to move, to get up and run away but the form pinned her. “She’s awake.” It said to someone lurking in the dark.



They stepped forward, holding something and she struggled harder. The object was clamped around her wrist and she screamed, not in physical pain but in mental anguish as the object did its job.



“There.” The new being said with satisfaction. “We’re going to have lots of fun with you.”



>



Veriea jolted awake, breathing hard as the dream faded.



The tenth one this week.



She whimpered softly to herself. Why did she have to have these dreams, nightmares? This was all behind her now, gone, dead and buried. She didn’t want to remember.



Well, maybe there was one thing she wanted to remember.



With a tiny thread of magic, she reached out and pulled a small metal object from the Ethereal Plains and into the Physical, letting it fall into her hands.



It was a set of dog-tags on a silver chain, the cheap kind you could buy and get engraved at just about any local show for $10 – but it was her most precious possession. She’d never managed to do this kind of magic with anything else but maybe it was because this object was so special to her.



She traced the words slowly with a finger tip. “Vixen, DracoForenea”.



Vixen. The self-proclaimed tag name.



Silvashadow had a set just like this, only with the name ‘Sasha’.



Veriea sighed and though she deeply missed her friend, pushed the thoughts away.



It had been 3 weeks since they had arrived on the Homeworld. She had all her armor and weaponry now and even her mask and computer. She had met K’ar’e’cha for training only 2 weeks ago and to everyone’s surprise, including her own, she had excelled quickly and astoundingly, as if she had used the weapons and had trained her entire life as they had.



She could not explain the instinctive knowledge and familiarity she had felt when she had first taken the Hiju stance against the Clan Leader’s third in command in the training kehrite, the original intention – to see how much she already knew and what needed to be taught, honed and perfected – quickly becoming, for K’ar’e’cha at least, a situation in which extreme defensive maneuvers were needed in order to remain intact. After a thorough testing of her ‘skills’ over the course of the day, the Honored Warrior had simply stated that training with him could not further her aptitude, that it would be a waste of both their time and that he had not seen a finer hand at her range of weaponry since her sire.



Her abilities confused her because she knew for a fact that she had never seen let alone handled weapons and equipment like this before in her life. The techniques and automatic responses to the combat situation were ones she knew she had not learned in any of her training prior to her induction to the yautja society. Like her acquired knowledge of the yautja language, she found it perplexing, some what creepy even, yet she accepted it in her stride – no need to look a gift horse in the mouth; particularly since it helped through all of the challenges.



Since her presence had become common knowledge through out the city, she had had no less than 30 challenges to Jehdin-Jehdin. Many, it seemed, wanted to prove she was not worthy and not only among un-bloods. She lost none of the fights, having to resort to killing at least 3 blooded and young bloods when specifically challenged to the death. She decided not to count after the third. After around a week the challenges came less vehemently, though usually at least one a day and currently they were trickling through now and then; she figured the challengers were more interested in how they would fare against her than seeing her as vermin to be eradicated so much now. She seemed to have made some impression along the lines of ‘I’m here to stay so you bloody well better get used to it’.



In the past 3 weeks, as well as becoming good friends with Kainde’a’ke’a, they had made more than enough in the market place to obtain the ship and tomorrow they would finally be moving in; which was rather a good thing as their room on the main ship had started to become crowded. After closing the deal on the ship, the twins had moved into the same quarters as the other and five sets of awu’asa, weapons and trophies were not meant to occupy one room. As a result, 2 members of the group had to resort to hammocks; Veriea had willingly volunteered and S’ak’e’cha had drawn the other short straw.



Veriea pulled herself back into the present.



“Well, at least I didn’t fall out of the hammock this time.” She muttered darkly to herself.



“Ver’ei’a?” A gruff voice inquired softly.



Reflexively she Vanished the dog-tags.



“Yeah?” She guessed it was S’ak’e’cha by the gently swinging of the hammock next to hers.



“You alright? You were talking in your sleep and you sounded…upset.”



“It was just a bad dream.” She answered off handedly, hoping he’d leave it alone.



“The kainde amedha?” He sounded sympathetic. Did yautja dream and have nightmares too? Probably.



“No, an old friend that was…lost.” Veriea really didn’t want to talk about it.



“You’ve been having these dreams all week…” So he had heard her.



Crap.



“When in the Dark and Alone, our Fears come out to hunt.” She quipped, not sure if they were her own words or if she had heard or read them some where. She sighed. “Sorry I woke you.”



“Move over.” He growled and the side of her hammock dipped alarmingly as he climbed in next to her. “Maybe if you aren’t alone we can both get some sleep.” He explained, cutting off her flustered spluttering.



“I – um...” She sighed again. “Thanks.”



He patted her on the shoulder comfortingly, rolled over and promptly fell asleep.



Veriea, however, didn’t fall asleep straight away.



She didn’t feel quite so comfortable with someone else in her hammock with her. She thought back to when she had crept into Ma’e’ka’cha’s bed after a nightmare, seeming so long ago now. Sure it was the same thing but he was her brother. Kind of. Sort a…Ok, so it was the same thing; she just didn’t feel quite so comfortable with the others as she did with Ma’e. And considering – no, she would not even think about that. She was safe here, they were her friends…and that night had been the best sleep she had had in a very long time…



Veriea forced herself tense body to relax and inched a bit closer to S’ak’e’cha, who was quite the blanket hog, for warmth. Tamping down her instinctive misgivings about the situation, she eventually drifted off.



And she did not dream.



A/N: Yay! Another chapter finished! I hope you all liked Kainde’a’ke’a, she’s one of my favorite characters; the spunky, under-appreciated little guy – er, girl. Woman. Yautja – you know what I mean. Be ready for LOTS of fun next chapter….