Disclaimer: We all know the deal here… I wish I could own Predator, but I am not that fortunate. The characters and plot line are mine though!

Thank you to those who have taken an interest so far! Sorry for taking so long to put out the next chapter, studying for finals week took priority.

On to Chapter Two…

Chapter Two: Sapphire

Crimson handprints painted the once sterile white walls a brilliant hue as the scene of the slaughter was just fresh. Gurgles and small whimpers echoing throughout the corridor filled the young girl's ears as she toddled forward in shock and disbelief. Trying to make sense of everything, she absorbed the vivid details of death with each step taken. All her brothers and sisters were massacred, and she could attest to this fact by identifying a body part from each individual strewn about haphazardly.

Suddenly coming to a stop in the middle of the hall in front of a broken doorway, the girl peered inside, drawn to the noise from within. What once was her uncle dangled lifelessly in the menacing jaws of a tall and bony black creature. Her father and mother were laying behind it near the wall with strange spider-like creatures latched tightly onto their faces as their arms and legs twitched. They were still alive from what she could see as their chests rose and fell with each haggard breath, but she speculated that it was only a matter of time before the black creature decided to devour them as well.

Choking down a scream, the girl stepped back and stumbled over a severed arm before landing roughly on her bottom. The sudden sound and motion drew the creature's attention as its head whipped towards her with a loud hiss. It no longer seemed interested in her uncle as his mangled corpse plopped unceremoniously to the ground and the creature began to stalk towards her. Crawling backwards until her back hit the wall, the girl could only stare with wide eyes as it came towards her with its mouth parted-

Lilia felt incredibly hot as she tried to writhe away from the blanket of heat surrounding her. No matter where she scooted towards, the same burning sensation permeated throughout her body and when she finally thought she was comfortable, she was suddenly freezing. Her throat was extremely dry and she was reminded of how she desperately yearned for water.

In that moment, it was as if someone had been reading her thoughts as she felt something gently pry her lips apart before liquid rushed down her throat. It wasn't the coolest and was somewhat bitter, but it didn't really matter; she was finally getting the hydration she needed.

It had been the oddest sensation though; perhaps because she was dreaming. If she wasn't mistaken, something soft and warm pushed its way past her lips to deliver the water. Either way, she practically latched onto the source of water and began suckling on it weakly, attempting to absorb every last drop it had to offer. Suddenly, it felt like something cut her lower lip based off the sudden sharp sensation she encountered, but she wasn't entirely certain. Everything was a haze and the boundary between reality and dreams was distorted.

Ultimately, Lilia could not complain as the water temporarily distracted her from the uncomfortable burning sensation radiating throughout her body. She suspected that she was running a fever. As if I need more problems… she thought groggily.

Letting herself drift back to sleep after receiving two rounds of water, she could only dream once more of the blood-stained walls and black creature stalking towards her...

A'thael fiddled with the console in front of him until it gave him the desired results. If all went according to plan, he would be back home within the week. He glanced over at the girl's violin propped on one of the metal crates a few feet away from him and briefly wondered how his pup was faring. He was curious to see how well she would get along with the girl as she was rather feisty and outspoken; a major contrast to the girl's timid and submissive disposition.

His pup was definitely a force to be reckoned with as were most of the other pups he sired in his lifespan thus far. Despite all the negative feedback and advice against it from his brethren, he felt that no other pup could make him prouder than the one he was currently raising. Perhaps it was a soft spot, but he knew in some twisted way, his pup was a different kind of trophy that he had the honor of essentially handcrafting himself.

Wandering back into the sleeping quarters on the ship, he stopped at the edge of his fur covered bed and glanced down at the petite female occupying it. She was curled up on her side in a fetal position with her arms laying atop the other close to her chest. This was an odd behavior he had observed in his pup a few times and educated himself on the matter when speaking with a scholarly Yautja. Apparently, some species had the habit of taking on this pose as it was supposedly reminiscent of the womb; a comfort mechanism of sorts.

Upon closer inspection, he noted she was shivering and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Reaching out and touching her porcelain skin, he found that she was much hotter than a human should be. A'thael mustered a low growl before swinging into action. The girl was seriously ill and most likely dehydrated. One of the few things that angered him about the black market was quality control and how goods were handled. Each merchant had a different perspective on how to handle merchandise.

After gathering some wet cloth, an herbal compound his pup prepared for him, and a metal canister that contained fresh purified water, he began administering treatment to the human girl. He had half the mind to just dunk her into a cold bath in the bathing receptacle but decided against it as she would probably experience shock from the rapid temperature transition.

Though he knew the basics, the extent of his human knowledge was still relatively limited. The last thing he wanted was for the girl to die and for it to all be a waste. Especially because he traded valuable resources for her and there was nothing more irritating to A'thael than waste.

At first, he tried bringing the canister to the girl's lips to try and get some water into her system, but when the water merely trickled down the corners of her mouth, he found that he would have to get creative in hydrating her. Trying a few methods that resulted in failure, he huffed in annoyance. She was definitely beginning to make him wonder if he had made a mistake in choosing her.

He wouldn't give up though as he was a tenacious being and resorted to one more tactic before he believed more drastic measures would need to be involved. Mixing a bit of the compound into the water, he drew some of the liquid into his mouth before pulling her body into a sitting position in front of him.

Momentarily deciding an angle and how to approach the entire action, he leaned into her and awkwardly used his mandibles to gently pry her lips apart. Through this, he allowed the water to roll off his tongue after pushing it into her mouth and forcing it to the back of her throat. Feeling her respond through small movements, he was pleased knowing that she would no longer suffer dehydration. When he went to administer a second round of water he was startled when she began to suck on his tongue.

It wasn't intentional, but his lower mandible twitched and nicked her lower lip in response to the sudden action. At the taste of her blood, he had to resist the urge to tear her apart and devour her out of self-preservation. He didn't think he was starving but he realized it had been a while since his last meal.

The mixture of emotions was not pleasant for A'thael, but he found something strangely intriguing about the action of their tongues being entwined the way they were. He remembered seeing this sort of exchange amongst humans. Yautja would never really participate in such an action as their mandibles were just another accessory to fight if push came to shove.

While foreign, he cautiously responded by exploring her mouth slowly as she latched onto him. She had a fascinating taste, but he reasoned that the blood might have partially contributed to it. She reminded him of a human fruit he indulged in once at the black market. He couldn't quite remember the name, but knew it was bright red, fleshy, and sweet with many little white seeds. It was an interesting experience both then and now, and he momentarily lost himself before forcibly prying himself from her.

A'thael half-wondered if she was awake but decided that she was too feverish to fully comprehend her actions. After ensuring she would survive, he half-covered her naked frame with one of the furs on his bed before exiting the room, deciding that he needed to focus on getting something to eat before he regretted any more of his actions.

In a matter of 4 days, A'thael reached his homestead on a small planet he and a group of others decided to colonize. Landing his spacecraft a few hundred feet away from the front door of his abode, he reveled in the feeling of being at home once more. He had barely set foot on the ground when a blur of black fur came flying at him.

Immediately reacting by alternating his stance into a defensive one, he braced himself for impact. A toned thigh swung at him from the left and he deflected it before guarding the other side as a barrage of swift kicks and punches were to follow. Seeking an opening he snapped his right arm forward and caught the assailant's ankle before knocking their weight out beneath them, completely dangling them in midair. Had she been more serious about the assault, he would have his work cut out for him.

"No fair father!" a feminine voice cried out in his native tongue as he stared down on her.

"You left yourself open pup. You forget who trained you." He responded as he released his grasp on her ankle, watching her gracefully right herself with a flip. With a happy squeal, she threw herself at him and latched onto his arm in a brief one-sided embrace. Her sapphire eyes peered up at him with excitement and he couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her back off to tie her bouncy shoulder length brown hair to the side in a low lopsided ponytail.

Though A'thael raised this pup to adopt more Yautjan habits and culture, she still retained some human tendencies. Despite raising her as his own, he never allowed her to forget what she truly was by ingraining the concept of being true to one's self. That and she had somehow figured out how to transmit human media on the ship console whenever they traveled together.

"Come child, I have gifts for you." A'thael said while turning on his heel to walk back up the ramp into his ship. Sensing her eagerness and curiosity, he quickly filled her in on details of his hunt and what would be done with the remaining spoils. He knew she would be particularly interested in the pelt he acquired this time around as she was quite the fashionable one.

"Sounds like a successful hunt. Paya is most giving." She said in fascination whilst eyeing the pelt and bones of the slain creature. A'thael could tell by her gaze that the gears in her brain were already fashioning another set of clothing from the beast's fur. She was quite skilled in crafting things, especially outfits for herself.

"Sei-i. Now for your main gift…" he trailed off, leading her to the sleeping quarters where Lilia slept soundly. She had been unconscious the entire time but with regular administrations of water, she had managed to pull through and conquer the ailment that plagued her. She still had not woken up, but A'thael suspected that she would very soon lest she waste away from starvation. As if he'd let that happen at this point.

"This ooman is for me?" his pup questioned, her face scrunched up in a variety of emotions. He suspected that she might not be entirely pleased at first granted that she was primarily raised around his kind her entire life so far, but she would have to learn to adjust. Everything was a learning process for pups, and he expected no less in this situation.

"Make use of this girl's companionship. Do not forget you are ooman as well young one. The purpose of this is so you can further your knowledge of oomans. Once you undergo and successfully complete your chiva to become a true blooded warrior, there is the possibility of future encounters with other oomans, and you will do well to blend in. Do not argue with me on this one."

With a heavy sigh and the slump of her shoulders, he trilled in triumph. She was also one of his more obedient pups and appreciated this aspect of her as well.

"If you say so father, but if she cannot withstand the way things work around here…" she muttered while poking the girl's leg, secretly marveling at her pale smooth skin while comparing it to her own tanned olive visage.

"Another thing to note is that she has no vision. You will have to take care of her accordingly." He added while scooping the sleeping girl into his arms.

"Are you serious?" his pup exclaimed while trailing after him. "How is she still alive if she cannot defend herself from oncoming danger?"

"She has managed thus far, and her hearing is excellent from what I have gathered. You will also be responsible for clothing her. Oomans do not appreciate being bare as we do not appreciate the lack of equipment on a hunt."

The girl huffed in displeasure, exasperated at the idea of sharing her furs with this stranger brought into their home. Her father was being unusually generous on a human and it perturbed her as this was unlike him. She didn't dare voice her disagreement however as her father's words were absolute and pleasing him was top priority in her world.

With that the two continued to talk and catch up with each other as they entered their house.

Lilia was extremely sore as she felt herself coming to. To her surprise, she was laying on top of what she assumed to be a bed of fur, and while this thought initially freaked her out, all the events from when she was last conscious began flooding back to her mind.

Forcing herself to sit up, she resisted the urge to vomit. Wherever she was, the air was dense, warm, and somewhat suffocating. It was a bit hard for her to breathe but she supposed she would adjust within due time.

Taking a moment to collect herself, she suddenly froze. Something or someone was staring at her.

"Hello…?" she meekly called out and strained her ears to pick up on any other sound. In front of me, slightly to the right… she thought while soft footfalls began to approach her from across the room. Suddenly, it went silent and Lilia instinctively reacted upon what happened next. Something was cutting through the air and she raised her arms to block whatever was heading towards her face. While she successfully reacted, she was not strong enough to withstand the force and felt herself being thrown off the bed.

"Well, Father was right about her hearing. Not bad ooman." A feminine voice spoke fluidly in that foreign tongue she was becoming all too familiar with. Feeling her cheek throb slightly in addition to her rear from the hit and fall, Lilia adjusted herself and propped her upper torso on the edge of what she assumed was the bed. She was getting tired of being blindsided.

"I-I'm sorry I can't understand you…" she responded, desperately wishing there was some sort of common ground.

"Ooman, not bad I had said." The female said, but this time, to Lilia's surprise, in English.

"You can speak English?" Lilia asked hopefully, her desperation apparent in her tone. Maybe she could finally get some answers.

"This one is learning. Yautja the mother tongue. What is your name ooman?" the girl practically barked at her. Lilia was certain the person in front of her was human as well, so why was she addressing her as if she was the only human in the room?

"Lilia…" she replied submissively, feeling inferior in the other female's presence.

"Lil-ee-uh?" the other female said awkwardly, playing with the name a few times before she was satisfied.

"May I ask for your name?" Lilia gently pried.

"Only if you share the tale of your broken eyes."

Feeling her breath catch in her throat, Lilia suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. So much for boundaries… As if I'm really in any position to have any for myself though… she thought while biting her lower lip.

"It's a long story… But the doctors called it conversion disorder… Or some form of PTSD. I witnessed murder as a child." She tried explaining but could sense the other girl getting antsy.

"I do not understand these words, but I will think weakness is responsible." She huffed in annoyance before throwing a pair of black ankle-length leggings and a large baggy white shirt at Lilia. "Dress. As if I give a weakling like you the pelts of father's hunts. Must earn them through display of strength."

Lilia had no idea what she was talking about but was extremely grateful to finally have some articles of clothing in her possession. As she stood up to pull the leggings on, she tried to ignore the fact that she was being watched by the other female. She could kill for some privacy. When she began to pull the shirt over her arms, she found herself startled when the other girl poked her right shoulder curiously.

"Your clan symbol?" the girl asked flatly as she traced the tattoo with her fingertips.

"Clan symbol?" Lilia shivered and resisted the urge to pull away. This girl had no concept of personal space and it was beginning to bother her. She was beginning to get the feeling that this girl did not interact with other people that much, at least humans.

"Where you come from." Feeling a little confused before she realized what she was asking about, Lilia decided to elaborate on the medium sized tattoo on her scapula. It was an intricate yet delicate lily design that was inked in a metallic silver and though it slightly faded over the years, it remained relatively prominent in contrast to her pale skin.

"Oh… I have had this tattoo for as long as I can remember… I don't remember actually getting it, but it was suddenly there one day." She shrugged, hoping the answer would suffice. Guessing that the answer satisfied the other girl as she stepped away from her back, she resumed pulling the shirt over her head.

"Vayuh'ta." The other girl suddenly said, and Lilia turned around to face her general direction.

"I beg your pardon?"

"This one's name is Vayuh'ta." She repeated exasperatedly. Feeling the corner of her lips tug into a smile, Lilia nodded her head at the other. Lilia suddenly wondered where her previous captor was. She picked up on Vayuh'ta mentioning something about a father… Did he pass her on as a gift to this girl? Whatever the case, she would have to do her best to pick up as much information about her captors as she could.

"Thank you for the clothes Vayuh'ta."

Receiving an unladylike grunt in response, she shuffled uncomfortably while coming up with something else to say. Before she could dwell on that thought further her stomach growled angrily, and she felt herself blush brightly in embarrassment.

"Oh…!"

"Ooman follow. Will feed otherwise father will be angered."

Stepping forward carefully and inching her way around the bed, she stretched her hands out in front of her to feel out her surroundings. Bumping into the other girl's lean yet toned body, she froze when her hand pressed against something soft. She could only assume it to be the fleshy mound of a rather ample breast and yelped in surprise.

"Sorry!" Lilia squeaked as she retracted her hand immediately fearing the worst when it became silent for a few seconds. To her surprise again, the other girl bust out into laughter before she felt her slap her back hard out of a playful gesture.

"Do not be so grabby ooman. Not even friends yet." And for some reason, Lilia felt herself relax slightly. Nearly running into the doorway, the other girl grabbed her hand before impact and sighed loudly in exasperation.

"You will be trouble ooman. Make deal with me. In exchange for teaching you house ways and Yautja words, you train me in English… And that wooden tool father brought you with."

"Wooden tool….?" Lilia trailed off, trying to make sense of Vayuh'ta's broken English. Suddenly it clicked. "Do you mean the violin?" She was surprised it was even brought along with her. She believed it was lost the moment she became unconscious, but then again, she was sure that it was one of the prime reasons she was sold in the first place.

"Whatever it is called. Curious to see how it functions." She responded as she led Lilia down the hallway to the household kitchen.

"Wait here, will return." Vayuh'ta commanded and released her hand before walked away from her, momentarily leaving Lilia by herself in a new area. It felt more open than the last room, and there was actually a breeze even though it was still warm.

Feeling a little adventurous she shuffled forward slowly and felt her hand come into contact with what she assumed to be a wooden chair in addition to a table. It was a little crude, but it still felt like it was well crafted as she marveled at the strange texture. Before she knew it, Vayuh'ta had returned.

"Show me ooman." She said whilst poking Lilia in the stomach with the rounded bottom of the violin.

Perhaps it was a combination of being overly warm and hungry, but Lilia felt herself getting annoyed at being referred to as simply 'ooman' all the time. This girl knew her name so why not address her as so?

"It's not 'ooman'. It's Lilia! And if you want me to play for you, you could at least use my name." The moment the words flew out of her mouth, she wanted to kick herself in the behind as she was sure this would warrant a beating of some sort. Expecting the worst, she lowered her head.

"Lilia." The other female said before Lilia felt a calloused hand push her chin up. "Must have strength behind bold words. Show weakness, be treated as the weak to me. Will call you ooman again if you weak."

Blinking her eyes in surprise, Lilia understood clearly what she was trying to express. Perhaps Vayuh'ta felt somewhat sorry for her. Whatever the intention was, she would gladly take the advice. It was the first time she was allowed to speak up and not be punished for it. It would definitely take a lot of work to break the habit, but if she kept receiving encouragement, she felt it would be feasible.

"Now show me." Vayuh'ta asked in a gentler tone while pressing the bow into Lilia's free hand, genuinely curious about the wooden contraption. Taking a moment to quickly tune the violin accordingly as it was one of those fickle instruments that required tuning based on the environment, she shuffled through her mental sheet music before settling on piece that was sure to evoke some sort of feelings in her "audience".

Though he had been stealthy and undetected by Vayuh'ta, Lilia could sense her other captor's presence lingering somewhere nearby. She almost didn't notice him, but the moment the other girl left the room to retrieve the violin, she felt him watching her. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but she was certain he was there.

The sudden need for redemption surfaced as she recalled her poor performance the first time he saw her. Not that she owed him anything really, but at this point if she wanted to survive, she would have to start proving her worth. For some reason, a small voice in her head was telling her she had a chance if she tried.

Filling her lungs with a deep breath, she assumed the proper violinist stance and brought the instrument to the crook of her slender neck. Resting the bow atop the strings, she visualized the notes in her mind and exhaled before beginning.

She was playing a favorite piece that she arranged and adapted herself from a classical piano song by Franz Liszt called Liebestraum No. 3. It was German for Dreams of Love which she highly romanticized throughout her musical career as it was one thing she did dream of.

Her body swayed lightly as she engaged herself with the music, her petite fingers dexterously striking each note perfectly as the melody reverberated in the air around her. As she played, she reflected on a multitude of things, her past being the most prominent thought. There was so much she couldn't remember even though she desperately tried. She pondered how her life ended up the way it did and wished she could somehow change everything with her own two hands.

Before she knew it, the piece came to an end and she relaxed her arms.

"Amazing! A splendid gift from father indeed!" Vayuh'ta said while clapping her hands in a childlike manner. "Teach this one!" she exclaimed while reaching for the violin.

"Slow down Vayuh'ta it's not as easy as it looks…!" Lilia replied while batting the other girl's hands away from her precious Stradivarius. So much for food...

This was going to take some work…

Watching the exchange between the girls pleased A'thael immensely. His initial concerns of them not getting along quickly dissolved as they interacted, but to his surprise, his pup was being unusually gentle instead of rough. He was right about this human girl being a good experience for Vayuh'ta.

When his pup brought the wooden instrument from the storage room and handed it to the girl, he found himself captivated when she began to play. He took it back, she was definitely worth the resources he traded away. He believed it was a good thing she fumbled back at the auction otherwise he would be dealing with some challengers to obtain her.

Goods well traded… he thought while crossing his arms, examining her motions closely. Humans were certainly interesting creatures and he wondered what she was thinking about as various expressions graced her features as she swayed in time with the melody.

He smirked at her plain attire and had a feeling that Vayuh'ta would not willingly sacrifice her precious furs for a stranger. He remembered bringing her some human clothes from a hunt he embarked on two years prior. Needless to say, his pup was hardly impressed at what she considered lackluster quality in human garments.

According to her, they had no character or soul which he could almost understand, but then again, he was male. As long as he was provided with ample protection, he could care less. He was surprised she still held onto them though if she didn't even like them to begin with.

The baggy white t-shirt hung limply off the girl's right shoulder while the leggings clung to her form snugly. As his eyes trailed to her exposed shoulder he froze. A'thael had not noticed it before, but he realized that something about the symbol on her shoulder sparked a long-forgotten memory he buried at the back of his mind. With this newfound discovery, he turned on heel and disappeared down another hall to his study, intent on finding long-lost information recorded.

What have we here…?

Ooman- human

Chiva- trial

Paya- god

Sei-i- yes