A NEW HUNTER:

THE HATCHING YEARS

By Legair

Disclaimer: I do not own the Predators, Aliens or Gargoyles concepts. I'm just borrowing them but the characters herein are mine. Nor am I receiving monetary gains of any kind. Reviews, suggestions are welcome, even complaints and criticisms are acceptable if they are constructive, of course. With that said, please read and enjoy.

YEAR ONE

The clan was waiting for the arrival of one of their own. They were all crowded in the ship landing area, but there was several feet of space left where a pair of Yautja stood. No one dared step into the space occupied by the pair. The clan leader who would kill any that dared to show such disrespect. And the High Elderess who would personally kill any who dared even think of committing such disrespect. And it would not be a swift death by Ki'its-pa or Ki'cte-pa or even Plasma Blast. Oh no, it would be as slow and as painful as she could make it with her own hands. Though there was only one who had dared and lived. It's said that this Huntress, the Clan Leader and the Clan Elderess were siblings born of the same yautja warrior, the former Clan Leader. Those who truly knew never uttered a word, confirming or denying the whispers, not even in the secrecy of their homes. It was this Honored Huntress they waited for, said to have encountered a legendary Paya-deTjau'ke. The one who's character reflected her name. The soft gentle breeze, the ones you can barely tell is there, that comes just before the fury of the storm. The storm that destroys all in its path. They waited for Cro'dei-tha.

As soon as the group Clan Leader Thwei-grat'ka, and his mate Elizabeth exited the ship they were met by the High Elderess and the clan leader. As they approached Cro'dei-tha and the clan physician Pra'chek and Setg'in-kre't knelt on one knee before the High Elderess with their head down in the respectful position. Cro'dei-tha could see as the high Elderess and the clan leader nodded their heads in respect to Clan Leader Thwei-grat'ka, and his mate Elizabeth. Then she motioned to the Clan leader Pre'at'an who stood beside her as she turned her full attention back on Cro'dei-tha.

"You four retrieve the statue." The clan leader could be heard giving orders as he motioned to four of his strongest warriors. "And by Paya be careful or I'll skin you myself and dump you on an ice planet." He shouted.

"You returned well and whole. You bring not only your clan but your family line great honor this day by returning with the remains of a Paya-deTjau'ke." The High Elderess said motioning for them to stand. Cro'dei-tha nodded respectfully as they stood as commanded. Pra'chek came to her side and motioned for her to take the basket while they watched the four males carry the large double statue trying not to struggle with its weight. Cro'dei-tha turned and set the basket down in front of her by the statue and made the protocol motion of wanting to speak. She waited for permission, which the High Elderess granted with a motion of her hand.

"High Elderess, I wish to claim the egg and the pup within it as my own. To be raised by our laws as one of us." She spoke aloud so every yautja within hearing distance heard what she asked. There were a few soft hisses of surprise, but none dared openly speak until after the High Elderess had made her decision and had left.

"Cro'dei-tha I hereby grant your claim, make sure that the pup within this egg forever more carries itself within the laws and code of yautja society. Teach him well so that all his actions bring you honor." The High Elderess spoke as she looked at her sister. "Come to my chambers when the second sun rides high in the sky." Then slammed her staff to the ground and walked away.

"Honored huntress where should I have the warriors place the statue? In your dwelling?" the Clan leader asked as she turned around and noticed her former mate Setg'in-kre't walking away.

"No not my dwelling, they were not prey but honorable warriors. I wish for them to have a place of honor. Take it to the Trophy Hall where it will stand for all the clan and visiting clans to see! I'll come by later so that it can be positioned to best viewing vantage" she told the clan leader, acting as if Setg'in-kre't no longer mattered to her, as he nodded and swelled with pride. Then she turned to Pra'chek, Thwei-grat'ka, and Elizabeth. "Honored Pra'chek, Thwei-grat'ka, Eli'silb-eth I thank you for your assistance." She told them then added "I would ask for future assistance. I would wish to contact you for advice or assistance when needed over the intervening years on my concerns over the egg and the developing pup inside. I will need your expertise." she asked and was satisfied that they nodded their agreement to aid her when needed before they separated and went their own ways.

Cro'dei-tha returned to her dwelling where she summarily evicted the Bre'ktrohl that had managed to trespass, by way of speartip through its skull. She secreted the egg in a special alcove known only to her. Then she went to supervise the placement of the statue in the special courtyard in full exposure of the suns, in the clan's Trophy Hall, where trophies showing the clan's honor and strength were displayed. And along with the statue sat the marked skulls of the Ve'nde-thwei trio.

Later that day the High Elderess met with Cro'dei-tha in her chamber of audience.

"So Mei'hswei, I've heard that you honored the clan and the remains of Kz'arah the Paya-deTjau'ke and L'lth his Ooman mate by placing them at an advantageous position in the Trophy Hall. I have seen them she does look different than the honored huntress Elizabeth. And he looks just as foreboding as he did in life. The remains seem to retain the likeness of life as if they sleep and would arise again to do battle." The High Elderess said after greeting Cro'dei-tha and sitting on her throne-like chair and crossing her supple legs.

"Yes I felt it my duty to honor them since they reduced the ranks of the Ve'nde-thwei and brought them justice. Had I been faster or seen the signs sooner I co..." she began but was stopped.

"Ki'cte Cro'dei-tha, you are not Paya to accomplish this impossible thing." The High Elderess said gently. "You who are named for the wind of no sound, the breeze that precedes the destroying storm. You Mei'hswei who is mortal are not that fast, be satisfied with the knowledge that you kept your honor by preventing the Paya-deTjau'ke from falling at the hands of a Ve'nde-thwei trap. That you allowed him an honorable Dtai'kai'-dte thus granting him the chance to meet Guan-paya with the still warm Thwei of a traitor and assassin on his hands and his honorable mate by his side. And Rjet any other that says otherwise." She said thumping her fist on the human skull hand rest.

"As you say Thei-deGuan. Yes they do seem to be merely asleep. They could have been the ones to restore the dying species of Paya-deTjau'ke, there are less than 500 of these warriors in existence. Should they be restored they would go a long way to bringing greater honor to those hunters and huntresses that manage to bring one of their heads as a trophy. And I'm sure that even an honorable people such as they would have their form of Ve'nde-thwei. Think of it, a species that are just as intelligent as Oomans, as powerful as any Yautja with the ferocity of a Kainde Amedha. How much honor do you suppose a trophy skull of that kind would bring a warrior or the clan?" Cro'dei-tha said casually as if speaking merely to herself.

"Be that as it may, I called you here to discuss the possibility of you being swarmed with suitors." Thei-deGuan said while her eyes held a gleam of interest in her sister's thoughts. "Know that I will not and cannot forbid the clan males from pursuing you. For if I tried they would continue to do so in secret which would be worse. So you will be left to handle those single-minded hormonal overgrown pups." She clicked a chuckle as her sister joined her in the joke.

"Of course I will deal with them and I will try to keep the foreseen inevitable deaths down to a minimum." Cro'dei-tha offered, looking at her sister for a moment before adding, "I see you so rarely Mei'hswei, should you need, I offer my dwelling as sanctuary. Where we and our Mei'hswei can gather for a time and enjoy each others company." She gave the proper salute of respect, when Thei-deGuan nodded her head regally, then left the chambers.

That evening back in her dwelling she looked at the soft egg with what amounted to bliss in her eyes.

"Well, all has been put in place, little one. Now all I need to do is wait for you to hatch, yet somehow I believe that this will be the most difficult thing I've ever done." Sighed Cro'dei-tha as she eyed the egg with peace and contentment, for once not caring that these feeling's were not her own. She soon settled into a life of waiting and caring for the egg.

And for the first year all was good. The egg also began to undergo the stone change during the day alleviating one worry and she needed only to rotate it 180 degrees once every other night. But being contrary to the yautja that she was, every time she was out of the house which was often, her patience and tolerance ran in short supply and her aggression grew like a pack of bisor during the rutting season.

YEAR TWO

One day coming from the Dto area, she had claimed as her own to hunt when the egg was stone. She found a small crowd of yautja in front of her home watching as two males fought. Sighing she shoved and tossed males out of her way bringing herself closer to the combatants. Neither combatant realized that she was there or how the shrieks of the crowd had suddenly stopped. She waited for a moment then reached out and smashed their heads together when they came within reach of her.

"You arrogant and foolish males neither of you are worthy of my attentions." She roared at them. She rarely if ever roared which showed them that this was one of her bad days. "None here are worthy. The last suitor that thought with his genitals and not with what was between his ear-holes believed he was worthy. He received the attention of Guan-paya at my hands." She snarled to the crowd of spectators, noticing that the tallest in the group, stood at least a full Nok above the rest. He stood with his arms folded, smirking and staring intently at her. 'I know this one from somewhere.' She thought before she continued to berate the crowd.

"If you wish to attempt to gain the favor of my attentions then I call challenge to any of you. If you can defeat me in Jehdin/Jehdin then and only then will you be given the chance to gain my favor. Or you can wait seven years and by then your honor will speak for you. But be prepared for the consequences of your actions. This holds for all, blooded warriors and Youngblood's alike." She growled as she stared at the few Youngblood's in the group of warriors.

"So it's true. She has renounced her mate, our clan leader's third." Kre'ta-thwei murmured as he watched with interest as she confronted the crowd he had brought to her home. 'Perhaps now I'll get her to see me in a new light. I'm not the scrawny pup any longer.' He thought then noticed that she had seen him and made eye contact. 'C'jit!' Kre'ta-thwei swore unfolding his arms. 'Oh well she would have seen me eventually it's not like I blend in with everyone else, but does she recognize me?' he wondered smirking at everyone around him.

'Kre'ta-thwei?!' she thought shocked as finally the smirk jolted her memory and she recognized him. 'I don't believe it! It is him,' It was him in the crowd of yautja, he'd changed from the younger mischief making companion from her youth. 'It appears he is still causing trouble. This crowd has all of the talon marks of one of his schemes. But whatever he's up to I want no part of.' She thought then added him to her warning. "As well as old childhood tag along companions." She saw with small satisfaction that his smile fell and his eyes widened.

'Ahh Rjet that was fast. I wonder how she knew?' he groaned to himself at her reminder of their childhood and how he used to follow her around and usually convinced her to join him in one of his trouble causing schemes.

"Well, who here accepts my challenge?" she called out feeling a little better for having vented her frustration. Seeing no one move she snorted in disgust. "Bah you're all nothing but young pups playing at warriors." Then turned away to go home. "Leave my dwelling area before I decide to kill the lot of you. And you, Youngblood's, if you want to live to your hunting trial it would be best if I did not see any of you here again. Tell your comrades as well, this will be my only warning." She said as she disappeared into her dwelling. 'That sneaky Hac'nikt set this all up. He would try to impress me.' She thought, 'Though from everything I've heard of him, he wouldn't have to try very hard. He'd always been sniffing around after me as we got older. Even after I beat him to a pulp for trying to mate me while being unblooded.' as she washed the dried blood from her body and went to relax.

As he watched her enter her home and the crowd dispersed, he gave a count of fifty and approached her door which chimed.

"Fik-neh whoever it is. And if it is you at my door Kre'ta-thwei that applies to you as well. Was not my warning clear?" He could just hear her inside when she yelled.

"I've only come to talk." He yelled at the door feeling a little foolish.

"Oh of course talk. How foolish of me. Fik-neh, now is not the time to come speak your peace." He heard her shout with a growl. "They're likely to be the last words you say, as I'm more likely to kill you than greet you. Return when the suns dip below the horizon." He heard her yell as she shrieked and threw something across the room where it smashed against the wall.

"Well at least she told me to return instead of just coming out and beating me to a pulp." He murmured with a smile as he walked away thinking of ways to kill time until the suns set, it was still high noon!

Later that night Kre'ta-thwei walked back to the dwelling of Cro'dei-tha, as he neared it he found a pair of Ve'nde-thwei skulking around her home looking up at her open window. 'So those stinking Tarei'hasan think to murder her! He thought running as fast as he could. Feeling his blood boil he descended on them roaring his battle cry. The battle was fierce. He'd never fought a badblood before much less a pair of them all his opponents were all either prey or honorable if foolish warriors. He found himself caught between them both. Every time he turned to fight one the other would try to dash in and skewer his unprotected back. Finally having had enough Kre'ta-thwei grabbed the nearest one punched him in the face hard enough to dent the mask and threw him into the other. Then leapt after them activating his Ki'its-pa, he used his falling momentum to drive the spear through the chests of them both splitting the heart of one and severing the spine of the other, before they could disentangle themselves. He breathed harshly for a second then whipped his head around as he heard a familiar shriek followed by the unmistakable sound of a Plasma Caster being fired and a roar of pain. This was promptly followed by a third Ve'nde-thwei who had come flying out the window he had obviously used to gain entrance to her home. Kre'ta-thwei watched for a moment knowing that such a fall would not truly hinder any yautja but when he saw the smoking crater where the badbloods guts used to be, he delayed no longer and rushed to her door 'What a female! She gutted him with a plasma burst.' He thought

"Cro'dei-tha!" he bellowed pounding on her locked door. He sighed in relief when he heard her inside. But he knew his heart would not stop pounding until he saw her himself.

"Alright, Ki'cte! Kre'ta-thwei don't get your loincloth in a twist. Stop your hammering of my door and your shouting, you'll wake the neighbors!" she bellowed back as she opened the door.

"So there were three of them." He said growling as he crossed his arms and stared at her before his trademark smirk appeared. "And do you usually have a trio of Ve'nde-thwei out after your blood and head?"

"No I do not. There were four of them." She sighed before allowing him to enter. His eyes widened as he saw a fourth and very dead Ve'nde-thwei. He was against the wall! He'd been impaled with her spear!

"How did you manage to get that close without any wounds?" he asked in a whistling hiss very much impressed.

"I didn't. I threw my Ki'its-pa, just after I activated it." She snorted in amusement at the what must be a surprised expression on the Ve'nde-thwei face behind the mask. "The honorless C'jit never knew what hit him."

"Impressive!" he finally admitted as she reached for the weapon. "And to think I wanted to be the one to do the impressing."

"Not really I heard them coming long before they entered through the window." She said as she retracted her spear letting the body fall to the ground smearing blood on the wall along the way.

"You must tell me more." He asked and tilted his head as he heard something and then recognized the sound. "But after the Ge'tah leave." He chuckled knowing she could hear them too.

"Of course." She nodded her head. After a moment the heard the arrival three flitters bringing a handful of Ge'tah. They watched through the open doorway as the half dozen Ge'tah landed.

"Cro'dei-tha, if you are alive and unhurt, exit and account for the bodies in front of your dwelling." The elder of the group demanded as he stepped forward.

"Well, it's like old times." Kre'ta-thwei chuckled.

"Yes it is. The adults have come to reprimand us and put an end to the trouble you called fun." She laughed in remembrance, "Go stall them for a minute, while I go check on something." She told him as she stepped back into one of her rooms.

He nodded his head accepting the task. "I trust that when we have our talk you will explain?" he asked tilting his head curiously. "You know it used to be you that stalled the adults while I usually made good my escape. I hope you will not turn the tables now." He teased as he walked out of her home and barked at the waiting warriors

"What do you Ge'tah want? And it's Honored Huntress Cro'dei-tha to you!" he barked out towering over the lead warrior. "Don't you see the bodies of these Ve'nde-thwei near the Honorable Warrior Huntress' dwelling?" he roared, not giving the lead Ge'tah a chance to overcome his surprise. "Order your warriors to collect the bodies, for identification. And I want the heads of the two Pauk-de 'aseigan still skewered to the ground with my Ki'its-pa in them. The still smoking third belongs to the Honored Warrior Huntress Cro'dei-tha if she wants it."

"Of course I do, it was an honorable kill even if my attackers were not, and the head of the fourth one in my dwelling as well." She exclaimed smirking at Kre'ta-thwei as she exited her dwelling. "Kre'ta-thwei stop harassing them. And let them do their jobs." She said with a visible smile and addressed the lead Ge'tah pleasantly. "Now warrior who are you? And how may I assist you, mind you it's evening and I have yet to have my meal. I have a full day ahead of me tomorrow, so I'm sure you will keep this brief correct?" she asked as her demeanor turned light and deceptive as her name described her.

"We are assigned to investigate any and all commotion emanating from your dwelling. We were informed that you were killing yautja warriors at whim and we were appointed to investigate." He answered quickly having already been informed of her peculiar mood swings.

"Assigned by who? Who informed and appointed you?" she demanded as her voice and body remained light and deceptive while inside she was boiling.

"We were assigned by the High Elderess who received the appointment from the Council of High Elder's. We were informed by a 'aseigan and sent by the High Elderess." He answered trying to sound unconcerned in front of his warriors, as if he were in control of things. Suddenly she understood the Ve'nde-thwei, the assassin of her and her mate's pup and her cousin, was still out there trying to dishonor her enough to force her to do something foolish so he could act.

"Very well." She said calmly, now back to a normal demeanor. "I have nothing to add except that these honorless pieces of C'jit came to my dwelling to assassinate me. I killed this one," she pointed at the gutted body the other Ge'tah were carrying "and the other within. While my companion obviously saw the others outside my dwelling and dispatched them." She motioned to Kre'ta-thwei as he was examining two heads now detached from their bodies. And without another word she walked to Kre'ta-thwei and motioned for the short blade he had used to remove the heads. She began to do the same to her kills leaving the masks behind in place of the heads that she now carried to her dwelling ignoring everyone else. "If we are to have our talk then place your trophies in a sack. I do not wish to see those disgusting things in my home the entire time, dripping Thwei all over." She barked with a laugh, knowing that she would see her own trophies and that they would be dripping Thwei all over, as she disappeared through her door not caring what the Ge'tah did with the remains. She could also tell that Kre'ta-thwei was scrambling with his trophies as he rushed after her direction by the muttered curse he gave.

"C'jit!" He cursed as he snatched a sack from an inattentive Ge'tah and stuff the heads inside racing off after her. "Hey how come your letting yours drip all over everything?" The Ge'tah heard him ask as he got to the doorway. But they never heard her response as the door closed after him.

YEAR THREE

In the three years of waiting Cro'dei-tha had been forced to kill six suitors. There seemed to be no end to them. Then she soon found herself challenged by females who wished to prove themselves more dominant or advance their honor. This was a mixed blessing because they helped her work out her aggression but sometimes they got out of hand. If the suitor or challenger was lucky they were badly beaten the first time and allowed to live to learn from their error. If not they wound up dead never to try again. One day after an unsatisfying sparring session and feeling unreasonably angry, Cro'dei-tha stomped her way to the Dto she claimed as her own to do some hunting. On the way she is challenged by an older female displeased with the fact that Cro'dei-tha's honor exceeded her own and indifferent to the circumstances. But what displeased her more was the fact that her own mate has been trying to add Cro'dei-tha to his group of mates.

"Cro'dei-tha! I issue challenge!" Barked the female. "Face me like a true warrior huntress and not some observer. You have not earned the honor you have. I wish to see myself if you are still the Huntress I knew, before your trip to that Ooman cesspool of a planet." Growled the female as Cro'dei-tha turned around with death and fire in her eyes. She gave a quick nod of her head to acknowledge the challenge.

"You were foolish to challenge me, this day bodes ill for you Meh'ket!" she warned as she stalked to her opponent.

"I shall worry about that if you prove to be more than I can handle." Meh'ket taunted throwing fuel to the fire already raging in Cro'dei-tha's veins.

"I have issued the challenge. It is your right you get to choose how I reduce your honor." Meh'ket smirked nastily.

"It is your life, I will allow you to choose the manner of your death." Cro'dei-tha snarled as she fisted her hands and popped the knuckles.

"Very well I choose Jehdin/Jehdin and it ends when one of us can no longer go on or until one has cried H'chak!" Meh'ket responded as Cro'dei-tha remained silent. They soon divested themselves of most of their armor and weaponry and circled each other.

"I plan to beat you slowly and painfully, it is the only way to strip you of the honor you do not deserve!" Meh'ket growled at Cro'dei-tha. Seeing that her opponent stayed silent she leapt towards her planning to punch that insolent quiet face. Cro'dei-tha read the tautness of her opponent's muscles and knew that the female would leap before Meh'ket herself knew. Cro'dei-tha moved out of the way and launched a vicious kick that sank deep into the charging huntress' stomach, dropping her to the ground. As soon as Meh'ket stood Cro'dei-tha dashed forward slamming a powerful fist in the spot between the upper mandible where a nose would have been had her opponent been ooman. Followed by a crushing right breaking the mandible bones. She stepped back from Meh'ket, and watched as she crumpled to the ground gasping for breath with blood dribbling from her mouth. Cro'dei-tha then reached out grabbing her by the neck and by a leg and lifted her high into the air.

"Never again shall you challenge me or my honor!" she shrieked before slamming her opponent's back down onto a bent knee hearing bones pop. Then carelessly rolled her off and stood to watch as Meh'ket twitched and gurgled gagging for breath. As soon as she stopped breathing Cro'dei-tha once again donned her armor and left the body of the huntress to the care of her comrades.

"Wait honored huntress I must know, why did you kill huntress Meh'ket?" one of the group's females asked in bewilderment.

"Gkei'moun," Cro'dei-tha said staring at the young female who she judged to be just out of her Chiva. "I warned her twice did I not, she chose her words poorly. Now she can no longer continue can she." She finished before turning away and continued on her way to the Dto ahead of her.

YEAR FOUR

As the incubation time passed the halfway mark, Cro'dei-tha's life was marked by being summoned by the High Elderess. As Cro'dei-tha was escorted to the High Elderess' anteroom she found the Clan leader Pra'et'an his second DeTjau'ke had also been summoned.

"Good now that everyone is here, we can proceed." Barked a voice from the side commanding everyone's attention.

"High Elderess." they all say as they dropped to one knee. They rise when she makes a hand motion.

"Honored Hunters and Huntress, I have called you because we have a dilemma." She pauses as she looks over the trio of warriors. "Honored Huntress Nih'kou'di was heavily injured on a hunt and Honored Hunter Cn'trx was killed in combat. We are short two warriors to train this season's new Unblooded's and Youngblood's." She said as she walked to her Mei'hswei.

"That is why I am proclaiming Honored Huntress Cro'dei-thaBr'hak'ta-de the trainer of the female Youngblood's for the Chiva until Huntress Nih'kou'di has fully healed." She paused to allow that news to sink in then continued. "I also extend to her the choice to train any Unblooded's when she so chooses." She finished and turned to her seat and sat back, eyeing them for protests seeing none she dismissed them. As they left they nodded to one another in silent agreement for a meeting to discuss training plans. Cro'dei-tha knew that with the pronouncement of this additional honor, a new and larger wave of suitors and challengers would come calling.

The next day Cro'dei-tha found herself in the Kehrite of Youngblood's aspiring to be Huntresses. Due to having to beat a pair of suitors and another huntress into unconsciousness, she found that berating the students came easy, to break them of their pride, so they could learn properly to hunt, claim their trophy head and survive in the first honored hunt of the Kainde Amedha. She had them sparring against each other to ascertain who was the worst in the group. Finding her she called out for order and pointed.

"Ki'cte! Line up in front of me!" she barked as she stood still in front and folded her arms.

"You, Jaj! " she pointed to her first victim. The young female rushed to stand before her with her head in a respectful bow

"Yes honored huntress Cro'dei-thaBr'ha. . ." she began only to be stopped.

"Silence, I did not call you to honor me. I know my honor I have no need to be reminded of it." Cro'dei-tha snapped at the youth walking back and forth. "If you Tarei'hasan S'yuit-de wish to honor me, address me as leader while in my presence." She stopped in front of the youth. "Is that understood?"

"Yes leader" the group answered as one.

"Good." She smiled then looked at the female in front of her. "Let me see what you can do. I am the Kiande Amedha intent on killing you. Attack me and defend yourself as you would with a real Kainde Amedha." She barked harshly and as the female readied herself to attack, Cro'dei-tha whipped out a hand and backhanded the student.

"You are Thei-de." She snarled to the downed student who bowed her head in submission and knew better than to get up immediately. She turned away glaring at the other students as she addressed the group. "In a Kainde Amedha hunt one does not prepare inside the hive. One comes prepared and ready to kill thirty breathes before entering your drop pod. The Kainde Amedha will not wait for you to prepare yourselves in their hive. Their only instinct is to attack and kill and to continue killing until there is no more to kill or until they themselves are killed." she growled contemptuously. Turning back to the prostrate female motioning for her to stand and barked, "Now again attack!"

She spent the day slowly working with the group of students. By the time they worked their way to the best all the students had an innumerable amount of bruises, cuts, scratches and sprains. When she called for the attack the student charged forward only to dart back when Cro'dei-tha swung a fist straight forward like the inner jaws of a Kainde Amedha. Noting that the student was competent she quickly changed the tempo to combat speed and she added her other limbs. The young student successfully blocked an attack and barely dodged the inner jaw attack, leaving herself open to a tail attack which Cro'dei-tha provided with a kick sending the youngster skidding on the ground. Cro'dei-tha quickly followed after giving a good rap on the back of the skull of the downed student.

"You are Thei-de. You must never forget that the Kainde Amedha have more than the jaws and claws they also have the tail blade at the end which they can just as easily use to stab you with instead of battering you with it. Next time you will do better." She barked to them all as she allowed the student to rise. "That is all for the day, Fik-neh, go to your homes. Practice what you know and what you've learned today. Be prepared tomorrow." She called out and dismissed the class.

"Yes leader" the class chanted together and bowed their heads in respect. As she turned she found her friend Kre'ta-thwei leaning against the wall with his customary smirk. When the students exited he approached.

"That was riveting but a little harsh." He commented.

"I was given the honor of training them, not hold their hands. I will not coddle them. This is the way I and my Mei'hswei were trained. These should be better. They need to be better, if they wish to survive with honor." She commented hotly.

"True but to beat them soundly on their first day looks to be excessive." He commented slowly.

"Kre'ta-thwei, I have been keeping account of how many aspiring huntresses go out for their first hunt and the percentage of the survivors have been dropping steadily now hardly one in ten return." She snarled at him.

"But that's…" he gasped shocked.

"When the group I was in went for our first honored hunt, eight of the ten of us returned and seven survived. The other died on the ship in transit to the home world, from a tail wound to the chest that cut into her heart. Though she died she was honored as a blooded warrior huntress as was proven by the praetorian skull she returned with in her fist." She growled and continued.

"If you check the male S'yuit-de you'll see that more than fifty and no less than seventy percent of them return alive and survive. I do not personally know Huntress Nih'kou'di but I do personally know the Clan Leader and something is wrong. And I intend to see that it is corrected." She told him calmly as she left him staring after her.

"Of course Cro'dei-thaBr'hak'ta-de. As their instructor your honor demands it." He said calmly, then smiled. "It suits you." He said as he watching as she stopped in her tracks.

"What does?" she asked him suspicion lining her body.

"Your new name, Cro'dei-tha Br'hak'ta-de, it describes you completely." He told her honestly and just smile to himself as she nodded her head and left without another word.

YEAR FIVE

Cro'dei-tha had just returned from a short lesson where she nearly killed her one of her students. Only to come across Elizabeth standing by her dwelling.

"Not now Honored Huntress I need to check on the Egg. Then go hunting, I need to kill something!" she snarled as she got closer and the door swooshed open.

"My just a bit touchy today aren't you?" Elizabeth commented with a smile, she stepped out of the way then followed after. She continued to smile when she received a growling hiss.

"Actually I came to check the egg myself just in case." She said from inside the entrance and looking around the room. "It doesn't hurt to have an extra pair of eyes looking after it. But now that you mention it I could do with a hunt myself." She said as Cro'dei-tha lifted a delicately spike brow at her and brought the egg into the light and inspected it for minute cracks or blemishes.

"It helps me think." Elizabeth said as she studied the stone egg as well.

"Then perhaps we should not hunt on the grounds near my home. Between the two of us the Dto would be left with no prey of any kind." She shrugged as, satisfied that no harm had befallen the egg, she took it to the back and secured it again. "Perhaps we should hunt something that would test our combined and cooperative skills?" she asked as they walked out of the home.

"Yes that sounds acceptable but who would take the skull once the kill is made?" Cro'dei-tha asked as they walked deep into the dto.

"Well who ever makes the killing blow." Elizabeth reasoned. "Truly all I need is the satisfaction of the hunt and maybe the kill. So the skull is yours by right of this being your hunt and my just being a participant." Elizabeth temporized knowing how touchy Yautja were about their hunting skills. And knew it was not wise to antagonize the female that had resisted her attempts of friendship. "Now tell me what had you in a foul mood?" she asked carefully

I nearly killed a student today simply because she didn't quickly grasp the technique of firing her Plasma Caster upon multiple targets and dealing with her immediate foe. This is not a good enough reason whatsoever to cause the death of the student." Cro'dei-tha admitted with a growl as she looked to her companion and zeroed in to a slight movement in the bushes behind her.

"Do you think a Tr'ef-zrak will be enough to satisfy our honor and our lust for the hunt?" Cro'dei-tha asked mildly looking to Elizabeth her erstwhile hunting partner.

"Hmm Tr'ef-zrak, I would have thought a long haired Gem'shik. But a Tr'ef-zrak will do. Deadly, swift, and completely savage yes a Tr'ef-zrak will do very well."Elizabeth mused for a moment. "Why that?" then stiffened slightly as she caught the sounds coming from her left and her companion's right. "Never mind I hear them. One to my left, one to your right." She continued to talk normally aware that some of the planets animals were urged to attack when something seems out of place with the prey they are stalking

"A pair? Hmm yes they do hunt in pairs. I spotted one but not the other, your hearing is truly exceptional. It seems that the prey has come to us. How do you feel about limiting ourselves to just Ki'cti-pa blades for the kill." Cro'dei-tha clicked eagerly.

"Hah, of course. You do realized you are absolutely bloodthirsty." Elizabeth snorted her amusement.

"Let us show them that it is they who are prey and not the other way around. You take the left I take the right?" Elizabeth asked normally though her blood was boiling from the urge to make the kill.

"3!" Growled Cro'dei-tha in response.

"2!" Elizabeth snarled back.

"1!!" They barked simultaneously. And charged their opposing beasts just as they leapt to make their own kills.

As Cro'dei-tha ducked the charge and slammed a fist into the chest of the lunging beast, she caught a glance at her fellow huntress. She saw as she tackled the beast landing blows that would have stunned a yautja. 'Her mate has taught her well she moves and thinks like a yautja of many successful hunts.' Cro'dei-tha thought as she dodged a venomous tail strike. And kicked the creature in the jaw lifting it off it's two front legs.

"Cro'dei-tha! Switch yes?" growled Elizabeth as she deflected a sweeping tail in mid-movement.

"Yes." She heard as she leaped over a rush of snapping teeth.

"Now!" they shouted and whirled switching places to face their new opponents.

Cro'dei-tha dodged the flailing legs of the of Elizabeth's beast whipping her wrist blades and hamstringing it as finished rearing. Meanwhile Elizabeth had dashed to the slightly off guard creature that had been Cro'dei-tha's and plunged her blades into the beasts side leaving a long dual gash from shoulder to flank. As the two large beasts crashed to the ground. The huntresses again switched places and charged back to their original beasts, and extended their blades to the full lengths and either dodged furiously whipping tails or savagely snapping serrated teeth. They made their kills each plunging the diamond sharp blades through the tough hide and strong bone chestplates into the heart, bringing instant death.

As they finished the skinning process Cro'dei-tha made her slits to disconnect the skull and spine from the shoulder and pulled, ripping the muscles and popping the cartilage that connected the spine to the ribs. As she finished she watched Elizabeth make cuts along the spine severing the tough muscles before grasping the spine near the skull and yanking upward producing the same popping sound Cro'dei-tha did when she removed the spine of her beast. Cro'dei-tha watched as Elizabeth gave the ritual roar of victory thrusting the intact and bloody skull, spine and tail into the air.

"And you called me bloodthirsty? I wonder, are you sure you're not a yautja in disguise?" asked Cro'dei-tha. Her fellow huntress snorted her laughter and suddenly whipped around extending her wristblades as a sound came from behind her.

"Yes I wonder myself my most honorable mate." Clicked Thwei-grat'ka with a glint of lust in his eyes as he took in the sight of his mate glorying in her kill.

"Greeting's Honored huntress Cro'dei-tha, impressive kill." He greeted her with a nod of his head. And turned his eyes to his mate as she finished cleaning her prize as best she could with the tools at hand. Cro'dei-tha nodded in return, then turned to Elizabeth

"Honored Eli'silb-e'th You were a good hunting partner it would be an honor to claim you as a comrade not just as a fellow huntress but in other areas as well." Cro'dei-tha approached the other huntress and grasped her shoulder and clicked in satisfaction.

Speechless for all of a second Elizabeth returned the shoulder grasp.

"I am honored that you think so highly of me honored Cro'dei-tha. And will live up to that honor." She returned seriously.

"I'll see you at my dwelling the evening of the next day. Now go it seems your actions have attracted your mate's attentions. And I believe that he has some… strenuous exercises in mind." Cro'dei-tha chuckled wickedly. She watched as the clan leader grabbed his mates kill and slung it over his shoulder as he swept her into his arms and took off out of the Dto. When they were gone she turned and headed home somehow satisfied with herself.

YEAR SIX

"Enter or leave! Make your decision but do not make me go to you or you will be very sorry.!" Cro'dei-tha snarled when she heard her door open and but not close.

"Is that how you greet your comrades?" asked the voice of her friend.

"Eli'silb-e'th it's been too long, come to the back and bring our mate if he's accompanied you." Cro'dei-tha answered back as she turned the egg and watched it bulge as the child inside moved to a better position.

"The pup is much larger…" she trailed off as she saw Elizabeth waddle into her room. "What?! How did you become with pup? It is impossible for Yautja and Oomans to interbreed." She asked slitting her eyes in accusation.

"Be at peace honored Cro'dei-tha. They were sired by my honored mate Thwei-grat'ka." Elizabeth smiled in her human way while rubbing her stomach.

"How?" Cro'dei-tha demanded looking from one friend to the other.

"Tell me how is the egg and the child inside and I'll tell you how I became pregnant." She offered in trade.

"The Egg spots that tell the maturity have gotten much larger, as you said based on the translations. And the child has nearly filled the space inside, he seems fully formed." Cro'dei-tha began to warm to the topic of the pup. "He's already showing the budding spurs on the elbows and knees and budding horns on his head, the feet are similar to Oomans with all the normal toes and fingers." Cro'dei-tha finished as she gently brushed her clawed hand over the egg and clicked in satisfaction when the part she was touching thumped against her hand. "And as you can see he has gotten more active when he senses my warmth." She added with a smile of her tusks.

"Okay now it's my turn. Well three months back we were hunting a pack of half-dozen Tr'ef-zraks, which traveled into our Dto and were killing off the other prey. While we were tending our wounds we were ambushed by a what we believed were a pair of Ve'nde-thwei though the last one appeared in the middle of our battle." Elizabeth begins telling her story.

"Well done my mate this was a most excellent hunt." Thwei-grat'ka clicked in satisfaction to his mate and though he felt uneasy he believed it was left over worry for his mate who had battle three of them while he battled his trio of beasts. Suddenly they both heard the sound of a net cutting through the air and he saw as his mate was instantly propelled backward as it wrapped her and the tree behind her in wires. The whine signaled that it was the cutting kind. Before he could go to her he was attacked by a plasma burst.

"Kwei Vende-thwei!" he bellowed as he crossed his arms hoping that the Ki'cte-pa and gauntlets would block the burst without it removing his forearms in the process. Elizabeth cried out as she felt the wires begin to bite into her flesh and instantly unsheathed her Ki'cti-pa blades cutting through the wires freeing herself in time to avoid a deadly spear thrust.

"Ell-osde' pauk! You Honorless Bisor c'jit. Show yourself or are you such a Kwei vende-thwei that you cannot bear to be looked upon." She taunted as she finished her roll. As her mask's vision showed a heat signature of the yautja, she staggered when a speargun bolt stabbed into her thigh and her attacker uncloaked. She immediately switch her vision mode to normal.

"You Ooman filth you will die by my hands as my Mei'shwei gut that Chi'dte oomani-di." Growled the yautja as he advanced. She quickly scanned her area around her and found her mate roaring as he threw his spear into the chest of his stunned attacker. Only to turn and roar himself as a thrown smart disc returned to the dead yautja and buried itself into her mates shoulder.

"It seems that your Mei'shwei will be the ones to receive Thei-de, you fool. And I say that you will be the one to receive Thei-de at my Ooman hands." She snarled in return as she shifted painfully on her wounded leg ignoring the pain.

"We shall see Lou-dte kalei Gru'pkna!" he snarled as he heard the death rattle of his brother. He swung a clawed fist at her head hoping to kill her instantly but was surprised when she deflected it and performed a back flip with her boots striking his masked chin knocking him backwards in further surprise.

"Yes we shall see." She hissed for a moment as her blood loss caused her vision to blur. She brandished her skinning knife before her and screamed a challenging roar as she charged him like an enraged female that she was. Thwei-grat'ka roared in agony as when he turned around to face the next opponent a smart disc he had not seen thrown returned to bury itself into his shoulder. In his agony he noticed that his mate was alive and had a bolt in her thigh and was facing off with a Ve'nde-thwei. He noticed her bare flesh was lacerated with several wire cuts bathing her in her own blood. He knew he had to end the confrontation quickly or lose his mate to either the Ve'nde-thwei or loss of blood both of which were fates he was unwilling to accept. Then promptly snapped his attention to the roar he heard behind him, as he whirled he dodged the downward knifeblade swing aimed for his spine ad grunted as he felt it buried high into his back. As he defended himself with a savage kick to the yautja's side, he roared and charged with his skinning blade and thrust it into the neck of his opponent. As he twisted it he felt when the blade severed several blood vessels and the main artery. The dying yautja managed to telescope his spear straight under his ribs nearly cleaving his opponents heart in two, Thwei-grat'ka staggered back from the shock and just stared in surprise as the light faded from the eyes of his last opponent.

The yautja had just managed to evade the fast human female. But was caught with a back fist from her instead. He responded with a punch to her side. Stealing the breath from her body.

"You missed you pitiful Ooman." He growled and grunted in surprise as she showed him the blade and he saw it was covered in blood, he looked down and saw it was his blood! She had nearly gutted him!

"Have I? Or have I just scored first Thwei?" she mocked hoping to end the fight quickly before she collapsed from blood loss by making him careless. She got her wish as he roared in fury and charged, unsheathing his wristblades. As she tried to dodge aside her leg finally gave out and she stumbled from loss of blood. As she straightened out to meet his rush she gasped and grunted in pained surprise as she felt the blades slide in her stomach and were yanked out. She stumbled back with an arm to her middle and clenched shredded muscles to keep her insides where they belonged, she saw her mate standing there with a spear angled upward through his body and for a moment she thought he had died. At that moment she was prepared to meet Guan-paya at his side, when she saw his hands move to grip the shaft. Her eyes snapped back to the yautja in front of her as he rattled and raised his arm for the death stroke. In that moment her vision turned crystal clear and time seemed to stop, she saw herself as she suddenly swiped the blade across his throat. She cut through muscled flesh and carving deep into bone and as he clutched his throat, she then dropped the skinning knife and with the same arm, she thrust her Ki'cte-pa blades through the gash she made earlier into his body then extended them to shred his heart. As death seized his body and he toppled to the ground, so did she only to see her mate stagger to her as her eyes slid shut.

"And I remember no more." She finished looking to her mate.

"After removing the spear," He took up the story. "I made my way to her side and once I saw the damage done to her body, I knew she needed the abilities of a healing chamber. And I knew that if I wished for my mate to stay by my side I had to get her there immediately. I managed to gently carry her to the medi-center in my clan's territory shouting at her, commanding her to not give up her life to Guan-paya. Threatening Guan-paya himself to release her from his summons or I would follow. By the time I staggered there she was covered in my Thwei as well as the little bit of her own she had left in her body. I put her into the nearest chamber and watched as it slid closed. I then contacted the Ge'tah and claimed the heads of my two kills and the head of my mates kill in her behalf. And instructed them to bring our remaining trophies of the six Tr'ef-zraks. Then I allowed the physician to put me in a chamber, but only after I checked that she still breathed and would remain in this world. I awakened three days later but due to her Ooman biology she awakened a Dre'eks later. Once she was proclaimed fit I took her to our dwelling and made an examination of my own. You know how we males are when our mates are injured." He chuckled to Cro'dei-tha who laughed as well knowing full well what he meant. While Elizabeth blushed crimson.

Then about a week later she was ill nothing she ate stayed within her. This lasted for a another week then as I came back from a sparring session I was called to the medi-center. When I arrived I found the clan's High Elderess, my mate and the physician deep in discussion." He shook his head at his foolishness.

"At first I thought something was wrong, then the High Elderess looked to me and had me explain the events of our hunt of the Tr'ef-zraks. As I explained how at the end my mate was covered in my Thwei she turned to the physician who showed her the records. The high Elderess motioned for the physician to tell me the reason for summoning me. But unable to speak she just activated the records of my mate's examination and I watched in shock as it showed three heat signatures within her. Imagine my surprise when I saw that she was with pups." He chuckled for a moment. "I had resigned myself to having my mate and never having offspring of our own though I had plenty from other mates. But it seemed that Paya had blessed us for surviving his Mei'hswei Guan-paya's attempt to have us at his side." He finished with a sigh then looked at Cro'dei-tha seriously.

"Honored Huntress, The attack was from the sons of Guan-thwei. The one who delivered your first offspring and cousin into the hands of Guan-paya. I believe the attack was a message designed to tell you he is not done with your family line." He finished as he looked to Cro'dei-tha, who had gone as quiet as her name.

"Please make yourselves comfortable here, I will not be back this night. I will see you in the morning shortly after dawn of the second sun. I need to hunt this night." She said as she rose from her seat they followed suit. After she secured the egg she left them in her home turned toward the Dto. Later that night any yautja that passed the Dto could hear her shrieks of rages and vows of vengeance which could be heard all the way to the High Elderess' dwelling.

YEAR SEVEN

Soon the months were passing faster and faster and Cro'dei-tha hardly dared leave her dwelling. Until the one day while out walking she encountered her friends.

"Ah Eli'silb-e'th, Thwei-grat'ka! The time draws near, when he moves the egg topples over, from the moment the suns set to the moment the suns rise he moves constantly. I have changed my sleeping hours to watch over it to be sure he does not damage himself as he moves about inside the egg. I've taken to resting on the bed with the egg and sleeping while the suns ride high in the sky." She hissed her words as she fought a yawn.

"Really you sleep in the day?" Elizabeth asked and grimaced as one the babies moved again and her abdomen bulged to the side as they settled into position.

"Your stomach looks just like the egg when it moves!" Cro'dei-tha clicked with humor.

"This is not funny. Cro'dei-tha." Elizabeth growled with frustration then rounds on her mate. "This is all your fault if you had not listen to your genitals and insisted on pleasures I wouldn't be like this. Once they are out you will not get any pleasures from me unless I demand them of you, understand?" she shrieked at Thwei-grat'ka who choked back laughter and looked down knowing that it was she who usually insisted on the pleasures. And he enjoyed it more when she dictated the how, the when and the length of time she wanted them. Cro'dei-tha gave a clicking chortle of laughter, as she watched her friend berate her mate. "Are you laughing at me? Am I funny? Do I make you laugh? Am I here to amuse you?" Elizabeth snarled in rage at Cro'dei-tha.

"My pardon honored huntress, no I am not laughing at you and you do not amuse me." Cro'dei-tha tried to say seriously, but it was ruined by the fact that she was laughing out loud. "Come inside huntress Eli'silb-e'th the stress is not good for you or the offspring pups. Come see the egg it'll help you relax." Cro'dei-tha clicked soothingly as she led her guests back to her dwelling. Once inside she had them sit while she went to get the egg. As she brought it out to them she heard a surprised hiss and a gasp from her friends.

"By Paya I didn't think it would be that big" rattled Thwei-grat'ka as his eyes rounded out.

"My goodness it has rounded out in size. May, I touch it?" Elizabeth asked tentatively as she winced from nagging back-pain.

"Would you like to?" Cro'dei-tha asked in return as she carefully placed the egg in her friend's outstretched arms.

It's so heavy, one would think that it was completely solid and not hollow with a child inside." She murmured as she began to relax and the pheromones did there job of pacifying its caretaker. Suddenly she moaned and sat up straight while clutching the egg to herself.

"Um Thwei-grat'ka? I think it's time, those aches I've been having, weren't regular aches these are birthing pains." She grimaced as the pain became worse. She quickly handed the egg back to its true caretaker and awkwardly stood and began to pace. As the pains became even worse it was decided to take her to the medi-center physician. Cro'dei-tha refused to leave the egg behind. Over the next few hours Elizabeth went into full labor. Any yautja that passed by the medi-center could hear the huntress screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Thwei-grat'ka should you ever have an amorous thought and approach me with your malehood… aaahhh" she screamed and gasped for breath as she pushed. "uncovered by a loincloth I shhaaallllll… arghhh" she screamed and the physician soothed and encouraged her continue pushing while Thwei-grat'ka winced at the decibel of his mates voice and the grip she had on his muscular forearm. "You are doing well honored huntress the pup will be," the physician began

"Oh silence you, just, you remove these pups from my body." Elizabeth snarled in desperation, cutting the physician off.

"And you dear mate I swear by Paya I shall cut it off and display it on my trophy wwaaallll." She screamed as she gave another tremendous push and felt a painful movement as her first pup entered the world. The first child fully appeared to be a yautja pup. The second child was a perfect blend of ooman and yautja. And the last child looked completely ooman.

Meanwhile in the next room Cro'dei-tha had placed the egg on a bed when the egg began to bulge suddenly she could only smile in a sadistic glee at the threats her comrade heaped upon her mate. As she heard the first pup was birthed the egg began to rock violently. As the second pup was born the egg developed rents and tears in the leathery shell. And by the time the last pup had been born the egg had burst open when a miniature clawed hand ripped at the edge of a tear and completely ruptured the shell from the inside and suddenly the tear turned into a large hole in the shell as the little child wriggled itself out of it's seven year womb.

"Congratulations honored hunter Thwei-grat'ka and huntress Eli'silb-e'th you have three healthy female pups." Cro'dei-tha heard as the physician announced and the assistant approached her and the wet shimmering hybrid

"If you'll allow I will just inform the physician and have her examine the pup and return him to you." The assistant asked and received a nod of acceptance from Cro'dei-tha. Moments later the assistant returned with a bundled wriggling hybrid

"Congratulations to you as well honored huntress the pup is a healthy male Ooman and Paya-deTjau'ke hybrid." The second physician informed Cro'dei-tha, who had been clicking and warbling encouragement to the child as he struggled to escape the warm wrapping turned prison.

"Why did he emerge from the egg so soon? There were six Dre'eks left." She asked as she looked from the strange pup in her arms to the physician and then walked to her friend to see if she was alright, knowing from experience that female yautja birthing their pups is a harrowing experience and suspected it was more so for an female ooman to birth yautja pups.

"I had forgotten, in the translations. His sire said that sometimes the early hatching of a Paya-deTjau'ke egg or sometimes even the births of pups by Ooman females somehow influences the other Paya-deTjau'ke eggs to hatch as well." Elizabeth answered wearily having heard the question. "Had I realized that I was having birth pains I would not have risked coming for a visit, I could have put the pup in danger of hatching too early." Elizabeth said as she held her two of her pups and her mate held her third one. Cro'dei-tha looked down when she felt movement in her arms she saw the pup opening and closing his mouth while turning his face into her chest.

"What is he doing?" she asked aloud, but when she looked up she saw that her friend was dealing with her two pups in her arms that were also performing the same motions. She watched as Elizabeth exposed her two mammary glands and let the pups attach themselves to them. Then she looked up.

"Oh dear it seems you do have a problem that only I can fix. He's ooman enough to need to be breastfed, I was unsure if Paya-deTjau'ke breastfed their offspring but had hoped not but it seems I was mistaken. He's rooting around at your chest because he's hungry Cro'dei-tha. My mate informed me how Yautja females are not like Ooman females and do not have the little glands that produce milk for pups due to them being birthed old enough to eat mush. Give me a minute and I'll feed him and hopefully he will grow out of the need to breastfeed soon, because you are going to have to live with me and my mate until your child is old enough to eat mush." She said with smile as she felt one of her daughters finish then she reached for the pup in her friend's arms, as her mate took his second daughter into his broad arms.

To Be Continued… in A New Hunter: New Surprises.

Reviews, suggestions are welcome, even complaints and criticisms are acceptable if they are constructive, of course.

And remember, "Payas leitjin-de . . . Hma'mi-de".

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