Chapter 2
Time skip, now 8 years later.
"Princess Rosemary Rosalyn Requinas! Princess Riona Rosabella Requinas!"
"Nanny, you never change your tune!" A young 14 year old girl skidded around the corner, not caring that she was wearing a fine laced hem, white petticoat and her best velvet scarlet Spencer over it. (A Spencer is a regency piece of clothing, a short, waist-length jacket, with or without sleeves. A petticoat is a long white dress that falls straight from beneath the bust, also regency). Her deep chestnut hair was in an updo, with her perfectly curved fringe framing her eyebrows and forehead, whilst smooth curls framed her face and cheeks. Her emerald eyes were bright and sparkled with excitement, and she almost slipped over her own petticoat, when Riona almost ran straight into her. "Not this way, silly. Nanny's coming this way!"
"Oh!" Riona, still fashioning a cute auburn bob, pivoted on her heels, and ran alongside her sister hurriedly. Their clothing matched, except Riona wore a dark purple velvet Spencer. She looked up to her sister, only a year younger at 13. "Where to now?"
"Erm…" Rosemary grabbed her sister's wrist, and they turned towards the stairs. They stopped, looking down the large white marble railing, and they gleamed at each other.
"Rose, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I do believe I am, sister." She chuckled, and pushed Riona towards it first. "Like the good old days, I fear." Rose giggled loudly, and hoisted her sister clumsily and helped her balance her bum on it side saddle. "Oh, how ladylike Riona."
"Oh shut up. Get up here." Riona pouted, and Rosemary pulled herself up after her sister. She held her waist, and prepared, both grinning happily. "Blast off!"
"Aye aye, captain!" Rosemary pushed them off, and they built up speed quickly, whizzing down the railing of the grand staircase, until their stomachs fluttered with glee.
They came to the bottom, and flew forward out of control, as they usually did, and prepared to land in a roll.
But they never landed.
"I do believe you like to make a habit of this, dear pups." They both had a muscular arm hooked around each of their waists, and jumped to conclusions. Riona's heart sank, and she went into panic mode.
"Let go Winston! I don't care if Nanny sent you after us, I will not be sent to my room!" Riona yelled, thrashing her arms about childishly.
"And I shall not be subdued, because I refused to wear a bonnet! Those things are damn uncomfortable, and hot!" Rosemary added with venom, also lashing out with her legs.
It was then they realised, that not only were they several feet off the ground, but their 'capturer' hadn't swayed once from all their struggling.
"Winston? Who is this Winston? Another Ooman?" Rose blinked, and Riona gulped.
Ooman?
"Oh dear. Riona, I do fear that isn't Winston."
"And I do fear, father will not be pleased when news of this gets back to him."
"Too late." The voice of their father's chuckle met their ears, and they cringed. They couldn't see a thing under this huge cloak!
"Well, time to face the music Riona."
"You first…" Riona pouted, and they were both lowered to their feet.
Immediately, both girls walked forward and brushed off their Spencers and petticoats, before standing side by side, and curtseyed, and bowing their heads.
Being the elder sister, Rosemary stepped forward first, and obediently bowed her head once more.
"Forgive our actions, sir, but we were caught unawares by your presence. We were not to know any better."
"Like children." A younger voice snidely added, and Rosemary bit her lip, refusing to lose her temper.
Riona however…
"How dare you comment upon the actions of those you do not even know!" Riona immediately snapped, her auburn bob bouncing with her furious stride towards the voice, and her emerald eyes burning with her fiery spirit.
But what those eyes locked onto…
Tall, cream brown and mahogany brown mottled skin, long dark brown dreadlocks with golden rings in them, deep amber eyes, muscular legs and well…muscular body. Everything was muscular, from his abdomen 8 pack, to his toned biceps, his lean figure…those un-amused amber eyes again…and…mandibles?
Yes, that was right. He had four mandibles, a smaller upper set, and a larger lower set, tipped with ivory white tusks. He had no weapons, no armour, just a long brown hanging cloth over a pair of what looked to be shorts underneath, sandals, and nothing over his top.
Poor Riona. Poor little teenage girl Riona…
It was then she looked back to his face, and pointed abruptly. "You're an alien."
Rosemary snickered, and bit her lips together.
Everyone, including the one she was examining, blinked at her, and sweat dropped.
It was then, Riona wished the ground would be so kind as to open up and swallow her.
Right about now.
Oh my gosh…what a stupid…idiotic…obvious…horrid thing to say!
"Nice to know there is life on this planet…albeit questionably intelligent…"
"We are intelligent!" Riona couldn't stop herself. Damn it, why wouldn't her mouth close!
"Oh, are you now?" He chuckled, and folded his arms. "So what are you capable of, other than ogling in a most obvious manner?"
"She is capable of riding, reading, writing, singing, dancing, and perfectly able to hold a civilised conversation." Rosemary snapped, standing by her stunned sister's side, and glaring with all she was worth at the visitor. "I assure you, she made no offence by-"
"Has she no tongue?" He hissed, and Rosemary was about to react, when Riona walked forward.
She stopped about a stride before him, and placed her hands together over her purple covered chest.
"Please except my sincerest apology, sir, for admiring your exotic heritage. You see, I can only scarcely remember ever meeting one of your kind, once before in my life time." He was so tall! What was he, 18?
"I am glad you remember me, Riona." She blinked, and turned back to her sister, and the man who had caught them.
"Hult'ah!" She ran a few steps giddily, then stopped herself and flustered a curtsey. "I mean your highness, forgive me, I, I." She closed her mouth, and bowed her head to him again. "I meant no disrespect, I-"
"I am glad to see you, also." Hult'ah bowed to her, and snapped his head up when the other Yautja hissed in distaste, at the show of mutual respect. "And despite my pup's actions, so is he. I assure you, he has been eager to meet you, Riona." He was still 9 feet, still wore a magnificent cloak, but he wore a similar hanging cloth to his son, but silver white like his cloak.
Riona looked back to the young warrior, and didn't like the way he was glaring at her.
Like he hated her before he even met her.
"Has he indeed…?"
"Yes, he has. Allow me to introduce my youngest pup, Daijuta." Hult'ah could have thought of a better way for their first meeting, but this would have to do.
Rosemary stepped up to her sister again, and rested her hands on her shoulders.
"Pleased to meet you, Daijuta." Rose gracefully curtseyed by her sister's side.
"Are you a prince?" Riona stepped away from her sister again, wide eyed and brightly curious.
Daijuta folded his arms over his vast chest, looking down at the little Ooman. I have to become mates with that?
"Prince? I am a blooded hunter. I have had many hunts and trophies, and have ranked in the top 30 of our annual tournament on homeworld. What does this, 'prince' mean?"
"It's a title, sir." Riona giggled, oblivious to the fact that he was uninterested, and obviously making fun of her. "I am a princess, as is my sister, and our father is the King. Is your father not a king?"
"My father is no such thing." Daijuta clicked angrily, his lower mandibles flaring at her. "My father is a most honoured, high Arbitrator of the imperial fleet."
"So he is a king, then?" She closed her eyes and beamed at him.
Daijuta sweat dropped, and looked to his father.
Was this girl for real? Surely she wasn't that stupid or oblivious…."Oh!" He snapped his head back to her, slightly startled by her outburst. "Forgive me Prince Daijuta."
"I'm not a-"
"I haven't introduced myself." She curtseyed, and her sister rolled her eyes and held the ridge of her nose in despair.
Riona, you are just too naïve. He doesn't even care… "My name is Princess Riona Rosabella Requinas. But please just call me Riona." She giggled again, only for Rose to poke her back, and whisper discretely in her ear.
"Don't be so informal, Riona. We are not children anymore."
"Oh, erm, or not." She fumbled, and looked plea-fully to her sister to come and save her.
And of course, she did.
Besides, a change of subject might do the trick.
And their father didn't seem to want to interfere…
"I am Princess Rosemary Rosalyn Requinas, pleased to meet your acquaintance, sir."
"Hn." He closed his eyes and scowled to the side.
"Do not be so disrespectful, boy!" Both girls jumped slightly as Hult'ah barked a roar.
They couldn't remember him being nearly as scary as he was now…
"Hn." He emphasised once more, and still looked away. "Should have followed Raijuta's example and just not have come…"
"Hmm?" Rosemary looked to Hult'ah. "Raijuta? Is he another honourable son of yours, sire?"
"Yes, when he feels like it." He clicked, troubled, and walked between the girls, placing a hand on each of their heads easily. "Now, your father must speak to both myself, and yourself in his ready room Rose. Is that not so, Henry?"
"Yes, quite." He followed his alien counterpart's lead, just glad that he had stopped calling him Ooman. At least.
"Do you not wish for me too, father?" Riona piped up as Hult'ah ushered them out of sight.
"No, no you are to entertain our other guest, dear." Her father spoke up, but she couldn't see him from the tall form of the Yautja king.
Oh no.
"Oh…very well." Riona gulped, and turned to face the very irresponsive Daijuta. "…well…your highness…ahem." Riona took a deep breath, and started again with a big smile, and bright emerald eyes. "So, what would you like to do?" He raised a brow at her, and blinked at her boredly. "Would you like to see our art room? Or the billiard room? We have a lovely Astronomical Observatory in our upper levels, and-"
"I'm an 'alien'." He mocked. "Why would I want to look at space, when I just came from there?" Riona blinked, and giggled.
"Of course, you're right." She giggled again, and grinned. "What do you like to do?"
"…like to do?"
"Oh, you know." Riona clapped her hands together eagerly. "Hobbies? Favourite pass times? Interests?"
"I like hunting and killing creatures lesser than me, taking their heads, and polishing their skulls to display on the wall of one of my many trophy rooms." He answered darkly with a smirk.
Riona sweat dropped, and gulped with a chuckle.
"Well…we don't have anything like that…exactly…but if you like weaponry, I could take you to the armoury." She pointed to the left hallway. "Right down there. We have the family crest of honour on the shield of the first Requinas mounted down there, and all sorts of vicious looking weapons too." Riona giggled, and held her hands behind her back. "Interested in seeing them?"
"I doubt anything you Ooman peace lovers have will be of any interest to me." He answered snidely, and folded his arms again, looking away with his head high. "I bet you don't even know any sufficient knowledge about weapons. You're a daughter of the highest ranking Ooman in four galaxies, and I bet you couldn't even tell me the difference between a katana and a sabre."
"Yes I can." He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, and she lifted up one finger. "A Katana was originally used in ancient Japan, in this galaxy, actually, and is a curved single-edged sword, preferred back then by samurai and Ninja. They are specialised kinds of martial artists from our past, who, although from 2 neighbouring countries, and the same country, they were very different in skill and style. The Ninja kept to the shadows, used an array of weapons from poison darts, cutting wire, netting, Wakizachi, oh, a shorter blade than the katana, also one of their weapons, but also kunai, a leaf shaped bladed tool used as a throwing knife. Whereas Samurai, used only the katana, possibly a Naginata, which is even longer than a Katana, made out of a wood shaft with a curved blade fashioned onto the end. Also from feudal Japan."
"…and a sabre?"
"The sabre traces its origins to the European backsword and is usually, but not always, a curved, single-edged blade with a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger. Although, sabres are typically thought of as curved-bladed slashing weapons, those used by the world's heavy cavalry often had straight and even double-edged blades more suitable for thrusting, like my father's royal guard." She then closed her eyes, and placed a finger over her bottom lip. "Though, they aren't very strong when slicing, compared to the Katana. And because of the hand guard, if is far heavier than the Katana." She giggled. "But then again, the hilt of a Katana is practical, but plain. People's ranks in the cavalry or military can usually be distinguished by how decretive the curved basket shaped hand guard, or if it's silver or gold. I like father's sabre, he let sister hold it yesterday, but said I couldn't, because I'm too clumsy."
Riona giggled happily, and smiled up at a very speechless Daijuta. "So! Would you like to see the weapons, or would you like so go somewhere else?" She brushed off her front, still smiling, and patiently waited.
"…I…" He stopped himself.
He would never admit it…but…he was actually impressed.
But she's still a stupid, weak Ooman, still meant to be my mate
Daijuta growled deeply and stormed off down one of the halls.
Riona gulped, feeling the tension coming off him in thick waves, and bravely waded after him. "Your highness? Where are you going? Do you wish for a tour of Jade palace, or-" Daijuta growled at her louder, silencing her, and he just stormed off even faster.
At this rate, I'll have to run after him. Riona whimpered, but grit her teeth. She fisted her petticoat by her knees, lifted it up slightly, and also sped up. "Your highness, please, if you would just slow down I could-"
"Pauk off! Pyode Amedha!" Riona blinked at him obliviously, and just walked up to him slowly.
"…I…don't understand, your highness."
"My name is Daijuta! Stop calling me those stupid Ooman terms!" He hissed, and walked off even faster, aided by his 6 feet, and long muscular legs.
"I, I didn't mean to offend you, Daijuta. I just-"
"Forget it." He snapped, and stopped, when he faced a dead end. "…how the pauk do I get out of this place?"
"Oh! Do you wish to see the gardens? They are lovely this time of year. All the roses have bloomed and the lilies in the pond are just-"
"Why would I care what your flowers look like?" His amber eyes bore into her, and she felt even smaller. Her mere 5 feet was paled greatly by his 6 feet. Why on earth did father ask me to entertain such a… "I just want to get out of this stupid palace! Jade palace? This place is all white and gold! Why the pauk is it caked Jade palace, when it's not even green?!" He growled, his lower mandibles flared slightly and clawed fists by his sides.
"Because it was not named after its architecture, sir." She paused. "Forgive me, but do you or do you not wish for me to lead you into the gardens? If not, I could probably call for a servant to escort you to-"
"Can you get my outside right now?"
"Yes I-"
"Do it." He stepped forward, and towered over her. "Now."
Riona gulped, and nodded meekly, before turning on her heel and leading him silently back to the welcoming hall. She then got the doorman to open the great doors, stop herself just in time, as Daijuta barged past her.
He would have probably run her right over, in his fowl mood…
"Daijuta, w wait!" Riona hurried after him, holding her dress up as she following him down the steps, and into the courtyard. "Go left!" He did, at the last second, and turned down the gravel path lined with lush trees, and ignored poor Riona behind. She had to take three steps for his one, and felt more and more belittled by the second.
As soon as they entered the royal gardens, she put on a bright smile, came up by his side, and placed a hand gently on his arm. "Welcome to the royal ga-A!" He growled, span round with furious amber eyes, and shoved her to the floor.
Hard.
Riona didn't just fall to her backside.
She hit the ground with her entire back, and banged the back of her head too. "…aah…"
"Pah! Weakling Ooman." Daijuta clicked, but reached down and yanked her back up by her shoulder roughly. He dropped her unceremoniously onto a stone bench, folded his arms, and glared at her.
Riona bent forward on the bench, holding the back of her head in pain. She had to bite her bottom lip, and scrunch her eyes closed tight to stop tears falling down her cheeks. "Well? What are you doing? You should be checking for injuries, not freezing like that. Unless of course, you are not injured, and hope to ignite some sort of guilt or sympathy from me." Daijuta defiantly looked away. "If so, then stop this pathetic act, and get up. Nothing is more disgusting to me than a deceiving, weak female."
When she didn't answer, he blinked, and turned back to her.
She had slumped over onto one side on the bench, curled her knees into her chest, and still held her own head in agony. "…Ooman?" Daijuta was actually concerned now, taking a cautious step forward, and reached out to touch her.
But before he could, she pushed herself up, and forced herself forward groggily, one hand still holding the back of her head lightly.
He watched her back, as she rose her head high, and forced her hand down from her head through sheer will power.
But judging from her clenched fists by her sides, and her stiff back, he knew better than to trust her sudden animation. "C'jit. You are injured." He then scoffed. "Should have been gentler on an Ooman. Father will kill me if I broke anything."
"I assure you, sir, that nothing is broken." He raised a brow, and looked to her with narrowed amber eyes.
Riona turned, gave him a beaming smile, and giggled. "I am well. Besides, it was an accident. I probably startled you, walking up on you like that. I apologise, Daijuta." She curtseyed, and winced, wobbling to the side slightly, as her head throbbed at her.
"You're lying. You're injured." He frowned, feeling a strange pang in his chest as he looked at her.
"No I-"
"Sit." He barked, grabbed her upper arm, and threw her back onto the stone bench again. "Stay."
"Daijuta, you're talking to me like a dog!" She chuckled, and beamed at him.
But he noticed something.
She hadn't opened her eyes yet…
"Look at me."
"I am looking at you."
"Open your eyes then."
There was a pause, and he growled threateningly. "Open your Pauking eyes, or I'll open them for you." Riona sighed, and slowly opened her eyes. Streams of tears immediately ran from her eyes, and she felt woozy, swaying in her seat slightly. "C'jit. Where can I get a medi?"
"…a…medi?"
"Grrrr, a medically trained personnel, then!"
"Oh, a doctor? Oh…just tell one of the servants to get one. Why, are you hurt?"
"No, but you are." He turned, but then pointed back at her. "Don't-move-an-inch."
"Yes, sir!" She giggled and saluted him, and waited until he moodily stomped around the corner.
As soon as he was gone, she dropped the act. "Ah…my head…"
It was like there were hundreds of little people stamping on the back of her head, slugging pick axes and grenades at the same point of her head. Wow, he is really strong…and he hates me.
Riona wasn't stupid. He had pushed her on purpose.
But that was probably the normal thing to do, where he came from, she thought. And they were so strong, that it would have probably been the equivalent to a nudge to one of his kind. If I wasn't so little…
Riona took a deep breath, and held the back of her head with both hands, bring her feet up onto the bench with her.
"I knew you were lying. Stupid Ooman."
"Daijuta!" Riona yelped, bring her hands back down to her lap, and trying to look innocent.
Even though her cheeks were red and wet with tears, her fingers were just a little bit red at the tips… "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to observe your blatant injury." He knelt down in front of her, and clicked to himself, frustrated, as he pushed a small silver box onto the bench by her side. "Bow your head." Riona did so. "Hold still."
Did she dare move?
Riona bit her bottom lip, as he inspected the back of her head, and rook a tube of something out of the strange box. She flinched as something cool touched the back of her scalp, and he quickly put the tube back in the box, snapped it shut, and got as far away from her as he could, without leaving. "You'll be fine." He huffed, and sulked to the side.
"Thank you Daijuta. I am in your debt. If there is anything I can do to show my gratitude, then-"
"Stay away from me." Riona blinked at him, and cocked her head to one side. "Stop looking at me with those stupid big eyes, stop following me around, stop Pauking smiling at me, and stop…"
Being so nice… "Stop coming near me. You disgust me. I would have found your suffering amusing, if my father wouldn't have punished me for it. If you were male, no one would care. But you're a defenceless little girl, so it's unforgivable." He scowled, his lower mandibles flared, and clicking furiously.
Riona just looked up at him, her emerald eyes watering, but not from the pain in her head. That had gone now. "Weak, pathetic, stupid little Ooman. Your race doesn't deserve to have the cheek to want to be classed as our equals. That is why our kind hunted yours. Like you did boars, for example. That is what I see when I look at you. A disgusting, squealing little animal, fit for nothing but entertaining one's self with, hunting, and feeding those above you. Pathetic, you really are pathetic. And you sister is no better. I bet she is just as gross as you are. Look at you! You have your hair like a male pup!
"…but…but I-"
"You can't even stand up for yourself, can you? I'm attacking you in the lightest sense of the term, and even now, you can't protect yourself. Why should I be reduced to your level?! You disgust me. The sooner I leave, the better. And if you want to show me your 'gratitude' then Pauk off, and never talk to me again." He hissed, and turned his back to her. "And you can tell your father the same thing. I will not be manipulated into agreeing to this. Ever. Leaching little Ooman male, trying to attaching himself to my father at all costs. Throwing his pups at my father in hopes of marrying you off to get closer to us. Fowl creature."
"…what…?"
"And to expect to have full compliance from me and my brother too! I should have followed his example, and simply refused to come. But I relented under father's command, and came. What a mistake that was!" Daijuta growled, spouting off and totally ignoring the fact that Riona had gotten to her feet, and was slowly staggering towards him.
"…marriage?" Her past dizziness was nothing compared to this. It was worse than hitting your head on the floor. "…to you?"
"Why else would your father have you tag alone with me to…" Daijuta paused, and slowly turned to face her.
Those big bright emerald eyes were wide, and absolutely horrified.
She looked like she had just been given to the devil as his play thing.
His arms dropped from his chest, and he raised his head in schooled alarm. "…you…didn't know?"
Riona could feel her heart thumping in her head, never mind her chest!Her lips trembled, arms shaking by her sides, and her emerald eyes wavered up at him. Her hands shook so much, she hid them behind her back.
She was 13 years old, and stood before a 6 foot, possibly 18 year old adult, she herself still a child…after being manhandled so carelessly by him…attacked verbally by him…terrified so much…and was to marry him?!? "Well?!" He barked, feeling irked by her reaction. "Did you, or did you not know of our betrothal?"
"…no…I didn't." Riona took a step backwards, and Daijuta felt suddenly winded.
"You mean you didn't know…and…and you were still…earlier you were still…" …nice to me…like you actually…cared. "And then I…"
Riona's big bright emerald eyes watered up, and she cupped her hands over her mouth. She took another step back, but this time, he stepped after her.
Riona staggered back, as if drunk, and flopped down onto the stone bench again.
"A a a disgusting, squealing little animal? I disgust you?" Riona whimpered. "My hair is like a boy? You don't want to be reduced to my level? My sister is just as bad? My father is a leech?!" Riona hiccupped, and got to her feet. "I have never been so insulted in all my life! And I will never be again! I am disgusting?! No, sir, it is you who are disgusting! You come in here, make stupid, careless assumptions, oppress your vivid opinions upon me, insult everything about me that you possibly can, make me feel so put down, manhandle me, heal me, simply to keep face with your father, and then have the audacity to commit slander against my beloved father and dearest sister?!?" Riona, more livid and hurt than she had ever been, looked around, desperate for something, anything, to throw at him. "I, I, I just can't believe the nerve of you sir!" She settled for her shoes, and hopped up and down as she pulled them both off. "Get out of my sight and out of my home! Never come back, and I will never marry such a dishonourable brute!" Riona threw the first shoe at him, and he simply cocked his head to one side, as it bounced off his chest. "I hate you! I never wish to see you again! Leave, now!"
"I will not-"
"NOW!" the second and final shoe hurtled towards him, but this time, he caught it in his fist. His lower mandibles flared wide open, the clicking in the back of his throat grew louder, and he hissed, absolutely livid! "You disgustme!" Riona screamed, and tears ran down her cheeks. "And for your information! The reason it's called Jade palace, isn't because of the building, but the women within it! And to you, this might as well be called the ice palace!" Riona panted with rage, fury burning within her emerald eyes, and her rose lips peeled back over her teeth in an outraged scowl. "Because you will never receive a warm welcome here!"
And she ran from him, bare footed, out into the gardens and soon became hidden within the conifers of the royal maze.
Daijuta, still holding her slipper, stared after her.
But he made no move to go after her.
After all, it was only fair, right?
He had insulted her, and now she had returned the favour.
"Get out of my sight and out of my home! Never come back, and I will never marry such a dishonourable brute!"
"I hate you! I never wish to see you again! Leave, now!"
"You disgustme!"
Dishonourable…the greatest insult you could give a blooded warrior.
Daijuta slowly turned and took himself back to the welcoming hall, and just stood up against one of the walls near the window, waiting.
He looked out of the window, and saw a girl sat on a bench at the far side of the garden, far from where he just came from. She was a pretty little thing, with a cute bob of auburn hair, weeping emerald eyes. He frowned, and almost looked away, when he saw another young girl running desperately down the garden, servants calling her back.
But she didn't stop.
It was Rosemary, running to her baby sister to comfort and grieve with her.
I suppose father and the Ooman ruler told the eldest girl of the betrothal, then. He knew this to be true, when the first thing Rosemary did when she met up with her sister, was collapse to her knees, and let Riona hug her head to her chest. They clung to each other, both hysterical with tears, and Daijuta was grateful for the distance and wall between them.
Because if he had to hear their sorrowful sobs as well as see them…
There was only so much anyone can handle in one day…
"Boy." Daijuta didn't look away from the window, as his father joined him, not followed by Henry. "Ah…I assume it didn't go well, then?"
"I will not mate her." Daijuta pushed away from the window aggressively, unable to watch anymore. "Pauking Ooman didn't even tell his pups they were to marry into another species. To Yautja…"
"Did you assume he would?" Hult'ah shook his head and sighed. "Oomans are weak hearted. It doesn't take much to wound them. In fact, it is easier to wound an Ooman emotionally and mentally, than physically. And no matter how strong an Ooman may think they are…like Henry for example…he still couldn't find the courage after 8 years to prepare his daughters before our arrival. Had I not forced him to speak of it to young Rosemary in my presence, then I fear, she would not have been informed at all. Until it was too late." Hult'ah clicked his left upper mandible and lower mandible together in deep thought. "Perhaps we should leave, and allow them to lick their wounds. As I have soon discovered, that the females are often the more delicate of the genders. But…be careful my boy." Hult'ah warned him, placing a large hand on his shoulder, and preparing the teleportation beam to lock onto them. "The female of the species can be more deadly than the male. Simply, because their weapons aren't visible." Hult'ah decided not to ask about the purple pump his son was holding, and pressed the lock on button on his wrist guard. "Come. We shall leave it a few years, I believe." Daijuta seemed in a trance. "Look at it this way. In a few years time, young little Riona will have matured. She may be a completely different girl, the next time round." He waited, as the familiar blue particles loomed around them weightlessly. "And next time, your brother Raijuta is coming, no matter how wilful he wants to be about it."
And they were gone.
But they were certainly not forgotten.
