Emma became aware of how tall he really was now that he was standing next to her. She even became more aware of not only about his height but also about his size. His massive body was all muscles. The texture of his skin had the appearance of that of a lizard. Its color was beigeish splattered here and there with green-brownish stripes. His had big and beautiful hands armed with black and long claws. He had hair like appendages on the back and sides of his big head. Some of those appendages were adorned with metallic rings of three different colors. She soon noticed his beautifully crafted belt made of dark brown leather and some sort of metal that has the appearance of silver. He also had two necklaces made of tiny skulls and pointy teeth. A bracelet made of tiny, white claws was adorning the biceps of his left arm. All that animal jewellery was clearly meant for adding fanciness to his warlike look.

Meanwhile Emma has just stepped back slowly without letting her guard down. She kept her eyes fixed on his mask, becoming more and more astonished how placid his attitude towards her remained. And then something really astonishing happened that moved her deeply. The tall being began to address her in English as he stood there with an imposing and majestic pose. His voice was calm and very deep.

'I am Ter'kan. I was scanning the surroundings when I've heard a gun shot followed by your scream immediately after. I came right away. Tell me what happened?'

Emma didn't dare to say anything. She just kept her eyes fixed on his mask. So he asked her again:'Tell me what happened?'

She finally introduced herself before answering his question: 'I am Emma. My friend Sebastian and I were running away because our camp have been attacked by a group of outlaws then suddenly these two men appeared in front of us and killed my friend. I'm sure they must belong to the same group that broke into my camp.'

Ter'kan nodded then said: 'They attacked the weaker ones, especially a woman. This is totally unacceptable to me.'

He paused briefly before concluding: 'I made my own justice.'

Emma sighed with sadness in her eyes. She then added: 'Without your intervention I would be also dead by now. I can't deny the fact that it has been an horrific moment when I saw Sebastian, collapsing dead on the ground.'

At this point her eyes became teary. She was about to burst into tears but she refrained from doing so. She sighed again with that same sad expression then went on: 'My troubles are far from being over yet. Now I am on my own in the middle of the Amazonian jungle.'

He said with an reassuring tone while keeping that same imposing and majestic pose:' You are not alone! I can help.'

She looked up at him and expressed herself hesitant: 'I...don't know...I must admit that...your offer makes me...feel uneasy because you are a total...stranger.'

Ter'kan said as he tried to reassure her: 'I'm aware of that. However I want you to and allow me to help you. And I give you my word of honor that nothing bad will ever happen to you as long as you are with me.'

Emma sighed again as she visibly kept hesitating. And then after having peered at him a few more seconds she finally accepted because she definitely knew that it would have been impossible for her to manage things all by herself. I agree to come with you but first we must bury my friend because it would be so disrespectful to leave his remains like this.'

Ter'kan nodded, saying: 'I will do that for you.'

So Emma watched the tall being digging a grave by using one of his bladed weapons. She had tears in her eyes the moment he put Sebastian's lifeless body into the grave. She then murmured a prayer once the tall being began to shovel earth into the grave. They moved away as soon as the task has been completed because Emma couldn't stand to stay any longer near the two other corpses.

Now they were walking side by side silent and guided by the light at the end of the day. Meanwhile Emma kept struggling against feelings that were constantly tormenting her. She was trying to reassure herself and get used to the tall being's impressive presence, now she had accepted to follow him. And for this she felt the need to glance at his masked face or those appendages at the back of his head from time to time.

However the more she was glancing at him the more her inner voice was helping her to change her thoughts gradually. Despite his impressive size and not being human, she had the intuition that he wasn't bad after all. From then on she did her best in order to get accustomed to that new and reassuring thought.

Soon it began to get darker and darker. After a long distance walk, Emma wished to take some rest. The shock she had to go through earlier made her tired and stressed. Ter'kan offered to carry her but she protested despite her increasing fatigue. And then she asked for another stop shortly after because she was getting really exhausted. Not to mention the heat was definitely adding more hardship to her state. So Ter'kan proposed again to carry her. This time she accepted his offer because she was way too exhausted to express any objection again. So he took her off the ground and cradled her in his arms.

First Emma felt awkward about that first close encounter. But that was short-lived. She soon sighed with comfort once she felt the warmth of his body from which a light, musky scent was emanating. She kept listening to the sounds of jungle while being rocked by Ter'kan's walking movements. Suddenly there was a bird call. Emma began to feel more and more sleepy. And then after one last struggle to stay awake, she finally closed her eyes. Everything sank into darkness within seconds. Emma has just fallen asleep into her savior's strong arms.

The next morning Emma woke up confused for the least to say. She was barefoot but still dressed. She looked up at the ceiling and soon realized the place wasn't like anything she had already seen before. She raised herself into a sitting position and noticed the size of the bed. It was really big and covered with white sheets. Two soft furs of various colors were spread on the right edge of the bed. She turned her head to the left and saw a table on which her backpack and a tray presented with food and drinks were displayed. The food looked delicious and a little bit strange.

There was the doorway of another room situated to the right. As her curiosity grew bigger she got off the bed and made a few steps, barefoot. She then stopped in the middle of the wide room and continued taking in the surroundings. The interior of the wide room was a mix of modern design decorated with sculpted, metallic panels that were depicting tribal shapes or battles between masked beings that looked like Ter'kan and monstrous creatures. High tech parts were also seen here and there. She started to walk around again and got near to some buttons that were embedded in the wall. She checked the texture by rubbing the pulp of her fingers on them gently. It felt like plastic and looked like some sort of mineral stone. Then inches away her eyes met a small screen on which red signs were flickering. She looked at the small screen for a few more seconds before moving away. So she headed towards two big, squared shape panels with a black thick line running all the way down. It didn't take her long to figure out that she was looking at the door. Another set of buttons was situated near the left panel. As she continued her inspection she soon discovered her sandals neatly arranged under a bench that was attached to the wall.

She turned around and the doorway of the other room flanked with sculpted columns came in her sight again. She walked towards it without hesitation and entered. She realized that she was now in the bathroom thanks to the medium sized pool situated on the right. Blue and gold tiles were covering the walls. She was about to sit on the edge of the pool that's when a loud hiss followed by foot steps came from the bedroom. She hurried up outside and found Ter'kan who was standing near the closed doors. He was lightly equipped with his face masked. He spoke first while approaching her: 'Good morning. How do you feel?'

Emma answered a bit shyly: 'Good morning. I am much better. Thank you!'

He kept asking questions as soon as he stood next to her: 'Did you eat something?'

Emma looked up and responded while fixing the eye-shaped holes of his mask: 'Not yet. I was busy, looking around.'

Ter'kan emitted a low and short trill before going on. 'What do you think?'

'It's unusual and beautiful at the same time.' She paused briefly then asked out of blue so changing the subject: 'By the way where are we?'

Ter'kan emitted another trill before saying: 'We are on board my ship.'

Emma frowned at him. She continued with uneasiness in the tone of her voice: 'What? Why did you have to take me on board your ship?'

She realized right away that was a silly question to ask. Wasn't her wish to accept his help? Wasn't she the one who had accepted to go with him after all?

Ter'kan answered while tilting his head sightly to the right: 'I took you in here because you need shelter and help! I took you in here because I had no other place to go.'

He paused briefly before adding: 'This is where I live for the time being.'

Emma sighed then asked: 'What is this place?'

'This is my private room.'

She frowned at him again then asked another question: 'Are you alone on this ship?'

'No! I am not alone. I am with nineteen other comrades.'

She expressed her thoughts right after with more uneasiness in the expression of her face: 'So there are more like you?'

'Yes there are. I am their leader.'

'You are a leader?'

'I am the leader of my clan. I am the commander of less experienced hunters.' He made a statement as he continued tilting his head slightly to the right: 'You look scared.'

Emma sighed again then spoke, hesitant: 'To...tell you the truth it...is hard to feel comfortable about all this. I...I don't know what to think...Really!'

Ter'kan said, trying to reassure her again: 'You will be alright. I took the responsibility to help you and I will keep doing my duty.' He then took the tray and sat on the bed, saying: 'Now it's time for you to eat something. Come!'

Emma raised her eyebrows then sat next to him, separated by the tray. Ter'kan took a strange looking knife and cut in half a fruit the size of a grapefruit with orange skin. The fruit flesh was yellow. Emma was observing the gestures of his clawed hands as he began to remove the black seeds. He then cut the halves into thin slices.

He said as he gave her the plate on which he had arranged the fruit. 'In my language it's called the sun fruit because of the colors.'

Emma took a slice and bit into it. Ter'kan was waiting for her reaction.

She said while grabbing another slice: 'It's really delicious! It tastes pretty much like some fruit from Earth.'

'What is the name of that fruit?'

'It's called the passion fruit.'

Emma continued as she took a third slice: 'Would you mind telling me more about yourself? Where are you from? What brought you to Earth?'

'I come from a species called the Yautja. My species is characterized by the hunting of dangerous species, including humans for sport and honor.'

At that point Emma stopped eating. She kept scrutinizing his mask as uneasiness was taking over her again.

Ter'kan continued calmly: 'We possess a technological advancement far in excess of anything available to humans!. We stalk then kill preys by using a combination of highly advanced weapons and traditional ancient ones. We claim trophies after kills.'

'What kind of trophies?'

'Skulls are the most prized!'

Emma asked with that same uneasiness in the tone of her voice: 'Do you really hunt humans?'

'Yes but we don't hunt any humans! First we must be sure the prey is considered game and lawful to kill. An worthy game must fill the following criteria. It can defend itself and, or is able to kill the hunter himself. The prey must offer us a challenge.'

'Are there any rules?'

'Yes! We follow a strict code that dictates the manner in which we will hunt our preys. This code is the highest of our law. Breaking one of these rules brings severe punishment, rejection from the clan and summarily banishing from all civilized Yautja society. Killing children, old people, women even armed is considered bad.'

Suddenly a faint smile appeared on Emma's face. She said as she began to eat her sun-fruit again: 'Now, I understand.' She then asked in order to work up the courage: 'How did you manage to reach Earth?'

'Yautjas are capable of interstellar travel which makes planets easy for reach.'

'I see! Hunting seems to be a very important matter for you.'

'It really is! Hunting is considered sacred to the majority of the Yautja race. Hunting dangerous preys is the backbone of the Yautja society. Individuals prove they are worthy.'

Emma requested as her smile became wider: 'I'd like you tell me more about your home world?'

'There are continents with parts of hot, dry deserts and volcanic activity. Humid, wet jungles filled with swamps are found near big cities. There is gravity. The atmosphere is breathable and similar to Earth. We also have two suns.'

Emma said just as she was taking the last slice from the plate: 'Your home planet is an unusual and beautiful place with a hot climate. I believe you must always choose places that matches the temperature of your home planet in order to feel comfortable.' She then had a soft laugh before exclaiming: 'You came to the right place. The Amazonian jungle has a climate similar to the one on your home planet.'

Ter'kan tilted his head again, saying: 'I find you so interesting.'

Emma had another laugh. Ter'kan asked after a very brief silence: 'What about you? I would like to know more about you.'

'I am paleontologist. Paleontology is the science that studies the life of the geologic past that involves the analysis of plant and animal fossils.'

'Could you explain what a fossil is?'

'A fossil is the remain or impression of a prehistoric animal or plant embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form' Those animals or plants lived millions or thousands years ago. For instance my late friend and I were working on the fossil of a dinosaur that lived millions years ago.'

'It must be fascinating.'

'Yes it is.'

Ter'kan emitted a low purr before asking: 'How old are you?'

'I am thirty years old. And you?'

'I am five hundred years old.'

Emma widened her eyes, saying visibly perplexed: 'What? This can not be. Your body looks so young and really fit.'

Ter'kan emitted another low purr before explaining: 'A Yautja can live up to thousand year. I am still considered quite young for my species.'

'That's amazing. And...what would your age be in human years?'

'Forty five.'

'This is considered young for humans too.'

Ter'kan asked as he was lowering his masked face: 'How long do you expect to live?'

'Ninety would be a very good old age. By this time, i will have only a few years left to live, whereas you will still have many hundreds of years ahead to live your life.'

The leader added: 'It's unsettling to think about this matter.'

Emma fixed her eyes on the lower part of his mask for a few seconds before asking: 'Why is this unsettling?'

He refused to answer.

Emma fixed her eyes on his mask for a few more seconds then continued more cheerfully: 'Do you know that some people on Earth have a hell of the time in order to prove that beings like you do exist? I consider myself really lucky to have made such an encounter. I am lucky because I have met a being from another world!. A very nice one too.'

Ter'kan nodded then asked: 'Do you still fear me?'

Emma answered with a smile: 'Not anymore! I began to appreciate your company.'

Ter'kan nodded again while confessing: 'I also appreciate your company.'

Emma had another soft laugh before divulging more of her thoughts: 'I believe that many other women from Earth would appreciate it too! And that's not only due to your personality.'

This raised his curiosity. 'What do you mean?'

Emma added with a bit of embarrassment in the tone of her voice, hesitant: 'That's...because you...have a very attractive body.'

This time Ter'kan emitted a louder and longer purr before asking: 'Is my body very attractive for you too?'

Emma simply answered while lowering her gaze: 'Yes!'

Ter'kan purred again. Emma looked at him again and asked immediately afterwards: 'Can we stop talking about this?'

Ter'kan concluded with a hand gesture: 'As you wish.'

The leader stood up. He said as he was putting the tray back on the table: 'Now...I must go back on duty. We will continue our conversation later.'

Emma also got up, saying: 'I understand.'

She followed Ter'kan with her eyes, looking at his muscular back as he moved towards the sliding doors. The leader opened them then turned towards her in order to give her one last glance before he finally left the room. Plenty of thoughts began to rush through Emma's mind as soon as the panels closed back. She liked the conversation they just had. Ter'kan was definitely very interesting to be around.

Later that day, Ter'kan visited Emma again. This time he was only covered by a loin cloth attached to a leather belt. However his face was still masked.

Emma got off the bed right after and greeted him: 'Good evening, Ter'kan.'

'Good evening. How was your day?'

'It was interesting. I also took some well deserved rest.'

'Do you still like my place?'

'Yes, it's really beautiful.'

The leader continued by pointing at the bed with his whole hand: 'Let's have a sit!'

So they sat one in front of the other. Emma explained with a faint smile while analyzing his mask: 'I must admit that it came as a total surprise the moment I saw you entering the room dressed like this. You look so different without all that equipment.'

He tilted his head to the right, asking: 'How would you like to see me most of the time?'

Emma lowered her gaze as she answered: 'I think without all that equipment I can see how well built your body is! I can see how big you really are.'

'Does this make you uncomfortable because I'm so tall and big when compared to you?'

Emma looked at his mask again. She sighed before saying: 'No! Not at all. I've already told you that I like the way you are.'

Ter'kan purred softly before continuing: 'It seems that we had some similar thoughts. I...'

He stopped. So Emma kept looking at the eye-shaped holes of his mask with interest, obviously waiting for him to finish his sentence.

He said while lowering his masked face: 'I also like the way you are.'

Emma smiled then asked with an hesitating tone after having glanced at the lower part of his mask: 'Can...can I...touch your hands?'

Ter'kan didn't say anything and just presented his hands. Emma took them in hers. She expressed her impression while she was slightly squeezing them: 'It's warm. It's smooth and rough at the same time. I like the sensation.'

Ter'kan opened one of his hand. Emma also opened hers and put her palm against Ter'kan's. She exclaimed, amused: 'Look at the difference! Your hand is so much bigger than mine. My fist could easily hide inside yours.' She continued by touching the claws of his fingers with the pulp of her thumb: 'These are impressive.'

'Are you scared?'

'I was but not anymore!'

She released his hand. He said after another soft purr: 'Emma, I like to talk to you.'

She confessed with a smile: 'Me too.'

Ter'kan stood up then added: 'We will have another conversation very soon. Now I must go again due to duty matter.'

Emma said with a nod: 'I understand.'

The leader kept asking Emma more questions to which she answered reservedly:

'Do you need anything else?'

'No. Thank you, Ter'kan. Not for the time being. Everything is just nice.'

'Do you have any plans for tomorrow?'

'Yes. As a matter of fact, I'd like to go back to the camp and check out things.'

'I will take you there tomorrow morning.'

'That's much appreciated.'

'Good night, Emma.'

'Good night.'

Ter'kan left the room. From then on, Emma spent the rest of the evening tormented by the leader's last visit. The memory of his tall and muscular body constantly occupied her mind.