One More

Author notes:

I admit I don't know all the lore. Most concepts in the story I picked up from other fanfic or making it up on the fly. The social structure is skewed and I forget the Yautja swear words all the time!

References to other fandoms / history are 75% laziness and 25% amusement.

Chapter One:

Amelia loved Val'jek. There was a certainty in both heart and mind that her giant green Yautja returned her feelings, or had been. Giving up everything she knew back on Earth was starting to appear as a grave error.

"No," Amelia said, for the third time.

"It is important." Val'jek's mandibles clicked with agitation though his voice remained calm and certain.

"On Earth, when a grown man loses interest in a woman, he tells her so. He doesn't pawn her off on someone else." Amelia clung to her anger in order to stave off her tears. No man was worth tears.

"We are not on Earth," Val'jek barked at her.

"And I am not a Yautja." Her face burned with anger and humiliation. "I do not mate with more than one partner. It's called monogamy and you agreed to it!"

"I agreed to mate only you and I honor my word. You taking another mate is not the same," Val'jek stood taller, his chest out. Amelia had insulted his word, his honor. She wouldn't take it back.

"So then you can take on another mate after, no doubt," Amelia said.

"No. I have my pups and that duty is satisfied. I have given my word and I will honor it. Bad blood has never entered my bloodline." Val'jek closed in on her but she backed away.

"I don't want to take another mate." Amelia didn't want to be mated based on his honor, either. She choked on the implication.

"You must." Val'jek's mandibles clicked with agitation.

"I won't. If you are through with me, drop me on Earth." Amelia turned away and retreated, her cheeks wet with tears.

Val'jek didn't follow her into her private studio. It was forbidden to enter her domain. The small room had been her gift from Val'jek, given to her after their mating ritual. It was a sanctuary for her to express her creativity and sanctuary from an alien culture that was often overwhelming. It was never intended for her to hide from her mate. Amelia felt shame at the cowardice. Crumpling on the thick mat on the floor, Amelia wept out her jumbled emotions.

#

Raz'ha had seen the ooman many times in the last few weeks. Rich and potent mating scent had assailed him whenever he entered a room she had been in. Raz'ha had chased the scent for two days, seeking a Yautja female in season.

He had missed the mating season when most Yautja females went into heat and hunters returned with trophies to impress them into a chance to mate and create sucklings. Raz'ha had many great trophies and a skill to beat most challengers in order to mate as much and as many females would allow.

Unfortunate events led to Raz'ha lingering on an ooman planet where he hunted four prized trophies. The foolish oomans had a hard meat infestation and Raz'ha was honor bound to destroy it. He had rescued a Tauren elder from captivity in the process. That was the reason his clan was lingering on the Tauren trade post.

He admitted laughing upon hearing an ooman lived with the Tauren clan. No wonder an Elder had been imprisoned by silly oomans. Raz'ha was stunned and embarrassed when he finally caught a break in tracking down the mysterious female in season.

Staking out the storage room he often found her scent lingering near, Raz'ha waited with patience. He planned to show the female his trophies, demonstrate his combat skills if necessary, mate and sire a suckling.

His clan elders were already frowning at him for being a prized warrior with only a handful of sucklings. Raz'ha had been too busy with the hunt and honor to father more. It did not help that his clan had few women and thereby fewer windows for mating.

Upon laying eyes on the ooman, Raz'ha simply stared at her. She was startled to find him lingering, staring up at him with large wide eyes. She spoke in a language he didn't understand, something short and nervous before he thought to record it.

The only thing he was able to think was that the ooman smelled better in person. Raz'ha was purring at her before shame could stop him. She tilted her head, giving him no sign of acceptance. He tried again, closing the gap between them as he purred, his mandibles opening with intent. The ooman backed away several steps, turned and left through a corridor he wasn't permitted to follow through, being a guest.

Every time he saw the ooman, and he made certain it was often, Raz'ha purred to no avail. Raz'ha started to wonder if she understood what he wanted from her. She hadn't turned him down. Perhaps it was a test, an ooman custom. Frustrated, Raz'ha started gathering any research to be found on oomans. There was little on their females or mating customs.

Raz'ha wasn't the only hunter vying for the ooman's consent. The ooman worked in a training room most days, after training ended. A tauren unblood was seen coming and going as she painted a wall. A handful of Saracen young bloods lingered to smell her. They purred at the ooman and sparred with each other in hopes of gaining the right to mate.

What finally gained her consent was a gesture stumbled into by a young blood.

The ooman was standing on a table to reach higher up the wall. She ignored the sparring two young bloods, who roared and battled precariously close to the ooman.

Raz'ha clicked his mandibles in warning at them. One thing he did discover in his research was the frailty of oomans, especially their females. The ooman was not impressed with their skill, nor any other fighter's skill. Raz'ha had bested several warriors in a similar effort. Rumors said she mated with an elder and no other impressed her. Raz'ha was starting to feel foolish, pursuing a silly ooman. Taking one mate was uncommon though and certainly not with an ooman. He told himself it couldn't be true.

Raz'ha considered challenging the elder but the events were out of order. The elder must claim and show his intent to mate for Raz'ha to issue the challenge. Raz'ha had yet to see this elder.

The ooman let out a cry of protest, ripping Raz'ha from his frustrated thoughts. The young bloods had gotten too close, bumping her table and making her wobble. Impetuous young bloods didn't let up in the heat of battle. The table took two more quick hits as Raz'ha barked at the young bloods to hold.

The ooman started to dismount the table, too late. It buckled, the ooman slipping to the floor, the table on top of her followed by a Yautja. Raz'ha crossed the training room. If they injured the ooman, he would kill them.

The Yautja rolled off the destroyed table and the ooman groaned. The standing young blood shoved the ruble away, spouting an apology as he helped her to sit upright. That was how he gained her consent to mate. Her hand touched the young blood's chest as he purred, if only for a moment. It was an odd form of the gesture to Raz'ha but it didn't matter. Consent was given. The chosen young blood purred louder, mandibles flaring and chattering with triumph.

"Pauk," the losing young blood said as Raz'ha closed in on the trio. The two had a pact not to challenge the other for her choice, but Raz'ha did not.

The winning Yautja lifted the ooman off her feet as he stood. She squirmed, speaking rapidly and Raz'ha quickly recorded the chatter, a rare occasion to hear her speak so much. The Yautja wasted no time to start mating, his claws pawing at her and fumbling with her strange ooman uniform.

Raz'ha's mandibles flared with jealousy. Why had she chosen the young blood over him? Raz'ha grunted, prepared to issue the challenge when the Tauren unblooded roared from the doorway, issuing his own challenge. All eyes turned toward the Tauren as he stalked into the room.

"You cannot mate," the winner said.

"Maybe unbloods can mate oomans here," the loser said.

"You have no right to her. If you are no coward, you will meet my challenge," the Tauren said, but didn't allow the warrior to decline as he charged in.

Forced to fight, the warrior released the ooman who quickly dodged the fight with a shriek. The unblooded was ferocious despite taking several hits to the face. Raz'ha clicked his mandibles in annoyance.

The warrior won, being older and more experienced. Mating musk emboldened the warriors as well, while the Tauren admitted no musk. Raz'ha didn't understand the meaning of his interference if not for mating.

Once more the victor, the young warrior returned to the ooman, his chest puffed up with pride. Raz'ha beat him to her.

"Let us see how you fare against a blooded warrior," Raz'ha said issuing his own challenge. The warrior accepted and the battle started and finished quickly. The warrior was skilled, but still young compared to Raz'ha. Raz'ha beat him easily.

Raz'ha intended to claim his prize but she ducked out of his reach. Not uncommon for Yautja females to lead a chase and fight during a mating game, Raz'ha pursued. He caught her quickly, taking them both to the floor, though he didn't bear down on her as he might a fiery Yautja. Oomans were fragile and he would be cautious with her, even if her scent spurred him on to a rough mating.

The unblooded wasn't ready to surrender however. Insults and a few dishonorable pelting kept Raz'ha from taking his prize, who kept repeating a strange phrase and speaking to the unblooded by name, Mah'sic. Raz'ha recorded that as well.

"What is your claim on my mate?" Raz'ha growled, hurling a paint brush back at the youngster who dodged it.

"She is not your mate. She declines your mating," Mah'sic said.

"I can smell her musk, little fool," Raz'ha said.

"Oomans always smell like that. I would know, she mates with my sire." Mah'sic trilled and paced with irritation just out of Raz'ha's reach. "Release her to me."

#

Val'jek felt fear. The realization was late as it was a rare occurrence. Heart pounding in rhythm with his feet, he raced through the corridor. Young bloods ducked out of his way.

Mah'sic, his youngest pup and apprentice, had contacted him, frantic.

"Come quick, Amelia is in danger," Mah'sic had said through the com. A ruckus and Yautja roaring could be heard in the background before the message ended. Images of Amelia's broken body and terror filled eyes assailed his imagination.

Val'jek should have never allowed his mate, an ooman, to run free on the clan vessel. Being a common trade stop for many clans, Yautjas of all backgrounds and temperaments docked on the vessel. Any passing Yautja could have taken issue with an ooman painting a mural on a clan ship.

Val'jek charged into the training hall, wrist blades extended. Stopping, Val'jek was surprised. Amelia was unharmed, but Mah'sic was bleeding bright green blood from several abrasions on his face and shoulders.

Amelia was pinned to a mat on the floor, a large yellow and green Yautja warrior straddling her petite ooman body. Struggling, her scent of fear was thick in the air. Amelia's scent wasn't the only potent smell. Thick male musk filled the large training hall. The large warrior on Amelia wanted to mate her, not harm her. He wasn't the only one either. Two young bloods were agitated and bloodied to one side, both emitted the musk.

Mah'sic was nervously dancing before the victorious warrior holding the prize. Unblooded, Mah'sic was no match for the large warrior, but his son antagonized the warrior regardless.

"You are not permitted to mate, pup. If you do not cease, I will accept your challenge and not be so forgiving," the large Yautja barked, mandibles clicking.

"You cannot fight me and keep the ooman at the same time," Mah'sic said.

"Mah'sic, whatever you're saying isn't working. He looks pissed," Amelia said.

"The warrior is correct, you are not blooded yet," Val'jek interrupted.

"Elder, I was stalling. These Saracens desire Amelia though she does not return their interest," Mah'sic said.

"The female determines who she mates. She does not decline me. I have bested the other." The Yautja sniffed the air. "The ooman is in season."

"She tells me she is unwilling in her tongue," Mah'sic spat out.

The warrior looked down at Amelia, uncertain for a moment. Mah'sic edged closer and the warrior snarled, mandibles flaring in warning.

"A trick to steal the ooman," the warrior snapped.

"Mah'sic, young bloods, you are dismissed," Val'jek ordered and the three shuffled out of the room.

"The ooman is in season," the warrior said, though not as confidant.

"Is he going to kill me?" Amelia asked, swallowing.

"He intends to mate you," Val'jek said.

"Tell him I don't want to mate," Amelia insisted.

Val'jek shrugged to Amelia before turning his attention to the warrior.

"You scent her fear. She believed you meant her harm," Val'jek said.

"She gives off the scent and accepted the young blood's offer. Both say she wants to mate. You speak her tongue, tell her I will not harm her," the warrior said.

"Do you know how to mate an ooman? She will die if you are not cautious." Val'jek shrugged again as if that thought didn't create a very real fear in him.

"I have seen oomans mate, it is similar. Do you intend to challenge for her or simply badger me with talk?" The warrior was losing his patience.

"What is your name, warrior?" Val'jek asked.

"Raz'ha of Saracen clan," Raz'ha said.

"I am Elder Val'jek of Tauren clan. The ooman is named Amelia. She may have indicated a desire to mate in our customs, but oomans are creatures with their own customs. If you desire to mate Amelia, you must court her first," Val'jek said.

Raz'ha looked down at Amelia once more. Leaning in, Raz'ha nuzzled her neck, making her gasp.

"I will teach you, if you let her up," Val'jek said.

"Tell me ooman, do you desire mating?" Raz'ha asked.

Val'jek translated and Amelia vigorously shook her head, no. The warrior understood that. Cursing, Raz'ha released Amelia. She scrambled to Val'jek's side like a rabbit darting for cover.

"She mates only you, it's true then?" Raz'ha said grunting with disappointment.

"It's not so simple." Val'jek scanned Amelia. She was bruised but nothing more. He placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her erratic heart.

"You desire to mate her badly?" Val'jek asked.

Raz'ha grunted an affirmative. "But if she is unwilling, I will not force the issue."

"It is an ooman custom in your way. It is looked down upon to mate without a courtship. She may wish to mate you, if you follow some of her customs." Val'jek laughed.

"Can she bear my pups?" Raz'ha asked, cocking his head at Amelia.

"Perhaps, if she is willing. Would you like to learn the ways of ooman mating?" Val'jek asked.

"Show me," Raz'ha said.


#


"What is the ooman saying?" Raz'ha asked.

"She wants to know why I have you as a guest when you have assaulted her." Val'jek was nonchalant as he heaped meat on a plate for the ooman, who could not reach across the formal table.

"I did not assault the ooman." Raz'ha was offended. Assaulting an unarmed female was dishonorable, bad blood.

Val'jek spoke to the ooman again, in her language. The ooman's face turned pink and she mumbled something.

"I explained that she gave her consent to mate and then reneged, that it is not assault," Val'jek said. "The least we could do to compensate for the cultural misunderstanding is share a meal."

"You said you would show me how to mate the ooman," Raz'ha reminded after a moment of silence.

The ooman spoke again, drawing Val'jeks attention. The elder nodded to her and took her plate.

"You can start by serving her more Kali." Val'jek handed him the plate.

"This is part of mating among oomans?" Raz'ha served a generous helping of the Kali, the ooman looked underfed.

"You are courting, which precedes mating," Val'jek said.

"Pash?" Raz'ha asked the ooman.

She responded after a small hesitation and glance at the elder.

"She said, yes, please," Val'jek translated.

Raz'ha served her plate and passed it back, perplexed by how it pertained to mating.

"What is this courting?" Raz'ha asked.

"Oomans do not choose mates as we do. Females require a longer period to take an interest in a mate, but that is because they are monogamous," Val'jek explained.

"One mate?" Monogamous was not a word Raz'ha heard often.

"Usually, but there are a few who deviate, taking on more than one mate. That is my reason for inviting you, in truth. I hope that in time, Amelia will have you as a second mate," Val'jek said.

"And to do this, I must court her as an ooman would? I do not think I would make a good ooman," Raz'ha said. As much as he wanted to dismiss the idea out of hand, it peaked his interest. And the human did smell tantalizing.

"Not as an ooman, but a warrior that respects her and her beliefs. An important one being monogamy and you'd be wise to consider my words. If you mate Amelia, you agree to mate only Amelia for as long as she'll have you," Val'jek said.

"I have obligations to my clan. Our numbers are small," Raz'ha said after some thought. The elder would understand the necessity of siring many more sucklings for his clan. "I could sire more sucklings after her time has passed." He hoped.

Val'jek nodded and spoke with Amelia for a while.

"She does not learn our language?" Raz'ha asked. It would be difficult to retain a mate he could not communicate with.

"She is learning. Mah'sic instructs her but I fear her derogatory vocabulary is the most developed. It takes oomans much longer to learn," Val'jek said giving Raz'ha a hearty laugh. "She does understand most customs, but I did not think she would require Yautja mating etiquette. The issue will be rectified tonight."

"And her scent? Mah'sic claimed she always smells of heat," Raz'ha said.

"Sense of smell is weak in oomans and their females are always capable of mating. They have a short cycle that peaks and wanes. When she peaks the scent is much stronger," Val'jek said.

"She already smells as a Yautja in the height of her season," Raz'ha said.

"Wait until her menstrual cycle begins. It is a week of smelling blood and mating musk in which she doesn't wish to mate." Val'jek clicked his mandibles in both amusement and agitation.

Raz'ha spent most of the evening learning the details of ooman courting, even after Amelia retired to Val'jek's room for the night. Raz'ha was curious about the pair sleeping in the same bed each night, mating or not. Raz'ha had never considered that and was suddenly eager to try.

# # # #