Nicole's heart pounded in her chest. There were more of them! However, she noticed that there was a difference. She could see anger and aggression in their eyes. She held on to the one she helped, praying that he would help her too.
Vix'na eyes widened as the leader of the hunt, yin'tekai, stepped forward. His very name meant honor, something all of the yautja had. However, in this situation..
"Elder.. please do not hurt this ooman. She has helped me and she will cause no harm" Vix'na said bowing down.
"You should be killed for doing this, young blood" The leader growled.
All of the other yautja gathered around, expecting that there would be blood. They hungered for it and waited for their leader to make his move. The yautja were always up for a good fight.
Vix'na stared at the ground as he bowed. He might very well be killed along with the ooman. He feared that the most. He dared to shift his eyes to his leader.
"Elder I-
yin'tekai backhanded the young yautja. He fell to the ground and stayed there, not daring to move.
"You dare disobey me!" The leader said, mandibles spread in anger.
Nicole winced as the predator she had saved, was struck with a heavy blow. He had done nothing wrong…
She had to do something.
Vix'na lowered his head in submission. His eyes closed, he waited for the next blow. He was surprised when it didn't come. He looked up and saw the ooman slowly walking towards his leader.
what the pauk? Was she crazy?!
Nicole inched towards the the predator. She couldn't believe she was doing this. She heard him growl and raise his weapon. She held her breath in fear. When the attack didn't come, she quickly lifted her hand and rested it on the large predator's shoulder.
Vix'na could n't believe what he just saw. She was greeting him, like he had greeted her! He saw his leader's eyes widen in surprise and shock.
The other yautja were shocked as well. What would there leader do?
Nicole waited for the response. She knew that he might just kill her, but she figured this was the only way out of it. The predator raised his arm and she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the blow. Instead, she felt is large hand rest on her shoulder.
yin'tekai rested his hand on the ooman's shoulder. He admired the ooman's bravery. Ooman's were always told to be sneaky and dangerous. They would hide behind objects and kill from a distance. However, this one seemed a bit different.
He could see the fear in her eyes, yet there was something else. She seemed confident, unlike what was told about oomans. Perhaps some of them carried honor and bravery within them.
Everyone was shocked. The leader sighed and made his decision.
"This ooman shall live, but this will not happen again" The leader said to Vix'na.
"Yes elder" Vix'na said, sighing in relief.
"You may go ooman" The leader said to the little female.
The leader motioned at the path she had taken to get there. He felt foolish as pauk for doing this, but something told him that she needed to live. Ah, well..
Disappointed that there was no fight, the group of yautja, along with the leader, started walking away. They were still clattering away about what just happened.
when they were almost out of sight, Vix'na decided to take the chance. He turned towards the ooman female.
Nicole stood there as the young predator faced her. She watched in surprise as he took off the necklace type thing from his neck.
"Take it" He growled, hoping she would understand him.
She stared for a moment and then reached out and grabbed the necklace. It was a little heavy in her hand.
"Thank you" she said, softly.
He then turned and started to limp away. He would make it to the ship, but would need a medic. This had to be the strangest hunt, but something told him that he would remember that female..
Nicole stared at the heavy necklace. She squeezed it tight in her hand and smiled a little. She felt relieved that she was alive and something told her that he would remember that young predator...
Nicole starting walking the path with the necklace in her hand. It was made from a strange looking metal and had bones attached. She couldn't let anyone see it. She walked faster down the path. She didn't want her family to freak out, thinking she was gone. Nicole finally made it out of the woods and stopped. She looked at her house, then looked around. Nobody was there.
Nicole entered her house and quickly walked to the stairs. She could hear her mom talking on the phone in the living room and so that gave her time to sneak up to her room. Nicole entered her room and shut the door.
She carefully placed the necklace underneath her pillow and then laid her head down. She thought about what happened and wondered if she would ever see that predator again. Her thoughts faded as she fell into a deep sleep...
...
Vix'na sat in the ship, waiting for the medic to come. He growled impatiently. They were always so slow! Vix'na's eyes trailed down to his ankle and his mandibles widened in surprise. The ooman female's clothing was still wrapped around his wound. He reached down and carefully took it off.
Should he keep it? He held it in his hand and pondered. He then put it into the chest armor he was wearing. He had given her something, so of course he would keep it. He sighed, not knowing why he cared so much. However, he found himself wondering if he would ever see the female again...