Chapter 4

"Get up! Look, your day off was yesterday. Today, you get your butt out of bed!" Guan flipped the hammocks as she usually did and both younger girls fell on their behinds.

"Why do you always do that!" Kantra smiled. Dachande was up to her usual whining again. So she just grabbed her robes, undressed into them and waited until everyone was ready.

"Because if I don't, who will? Why can't you just get ready like Kantra does? She doesn't whine or nag or go on forever like you do. She just gets on with it."

"Well I am me and this is who I am. Deal with it!" Dachande tantrumed off and stormed to the bath rooms, Guan and Kantra bringing up the rear.

"So what happened yesterday? And I mean what really happened." They entered the showered and hung their robes on the side.

"Yeah, what happened when big and bad went after you?"

"Well." She hosed herself down and basked in the soothing water. "He watched me in the shadows until I just asked him if he was going to stare at me all day. He came over, I introduced myself…and he introduced himself."

"So you know it was…him." Guan hadn't dared to say his name ever since Thwei confronted her about it.

"Cetanu? Yeah, in a big way."

"Then what happened?" D passed her the body soap and listened carefully, afraid of missing anything.

"He watched me train for a while…and tried to join in." the frown that grew on her face meant one thing. She had to fight. "He got into a stance and everything. But I said I wouldn't fight. So he challenged me."

"He did the whole push your shoulder thing? Males, they need to learn better manners. I mean, you may look mean in your Awu'asa, but you are obviously female. You would think they didn't know how to be courteous."

"I know. I still refused. So he attacked me."

"You were right Kantra; they do sound like bad bloods." D fumed and started to rinse her hair. Kantra had almost finished washing her hair as she continued.

"I ended up defending myself. And we got into a scrap on the floor…" Guan and Dachande looked at each other, daring the other to say something. In the end, it was Dachande.

"So he got you on the floor…and rolled around with you a bit…" both sisters clattered loudly as they all left the showered, in their robes once more.

"It wasn't like that!" Kantra went bright red and clenched her fists. He tried to slice me in two! If I hadn't pinned him on the floor with my hands when I did then."

"You pinned him to the floor!" D squealed and chuckled loudly. Even Guan almost fell over with laughter.

"No. Not like that. I pinned him and tried to crush his lungs."

"HA! With your legs!"

"How did you know that…" she blushed even more profusely and looked at her feet. They entered their room and pulled on a fresh set of clothed. The blue hanging cloth and halter neck bikini top.

"You pinned him with your hands. What else is there to use?" Guan chuckled as they all left for the Office. Paya was already there with her list in hand. But she did not look well. She looked like she hadn't slept all night.

"What's wrong with mother…"

"Didn't you hear?" Vikta came sheepishly over to them and placed her hands on Kantra's shoulders. "I am sorry. For it was I who looked towards your location yesterday. I hope you didn't get hurt."

"Don't worry about it. And…what haven't I heard?"

"After you did your little disappearing act, his high and mightiness decreed that the entire Cor'ja clan, not to mention the 14 members of the upper Cor'ja circle will be coming here, today, for as long as they see fit. He was dead set on coming back as soon as possible…" Kantra gulped and thought of only two reasons. 1, to find her or 2, to get his daggers back. They would be very important to him after all.

"Oh my…"

"L Listen up e everyone." Paya stuttered, partially worried and partially panicking. "The Guests left yesterday and the big clean up is complete." She paused and looked over the list. "All male staff with be working outside and in all the eating and drinking areas. Including the living level. All girls will be working in the kitchen and relaxation areas. And Kantra…you will be staying in your room for all the time they are here."

"No way! I should work like everyone else does!" Paya walked through the crowd to her daughter.

"You will stay in your room." she insisted and pulled her closer. "This Clan hunt Oomans just as they hunt the hard meat. They could see you as pray or just as sport. I will not allow this." She turned back to the crowd and started to hand out sheets of chores. "Stick to your timetables and work hard and quickly. I wish you all the best and we will have a week off after they leave. All of us I promise." Everyone disbursed other than Guan, Dachande, Kantra and Paya. "Guan, you are in the massage room 4 today." Pay looked down to her feet and quickly to Dachande. "And you my dear are on steam room duty in the boiler. You know, monitoring the steam levels?"

"Yes Mistress." D nodded at them all, and descended to the boiler room.

"Mistress? The massage room 4? Why that particular room?" Guan asked, but Paya blanked the question. "Oh Guan, take my daughter to her room will you? There's a good girl." Paya soon scampered off to the upper level to welcome the guests as and when they came.

As the two girls walked to their room, Guan had a frown on her face.

"What's wrong? You look like you were just condemned to your room for a long time. Oh wait, that's me." Kantra huffed as they walked inside.

"I…well I don't like the sound of 'massage room 4'. That is the most private room there…and Paya wouldn't even look at me…"

"Didn't you say that jerk from reception said he would be coming back."

"And he said that he was going to ask for me personally to massage him!" Guan growled and clenched her fists. "If it is him, I have an upper cut with his GOD DAMN name in it!" she hissed.

"Don't talk like that Guan. Violence isn't the answer."

"To everything. I know I know. You know, for someone who could hold her own against the most feared hunter in the universe, you are damned pessimistic."

"No. I will fight if I must. And one day I would love to go on the hunt…but I will never harm another being unless forced."

"I know. Little miss softie."

"Hay!" Kantra picked up a pillow and hit Guan over the head. "Take that back!"

"NO!" she laughed as a pillow fight soon ensued. Only for Vikta to come running in.

"What the HELL are you doing! You were meant to be in massage room 4, 10 minuets ago!"

"Eep! Gotta go!" Guan brushed herself off, pushed a bolt on the 'special floor bored' and turned to Kantra dead serious. Which was hard to do considering that feathers were sticking out of her hair and mouth. "You, stay, right, here. Got it?" she staid sternly and left Kantra, alone and feeling very down.

"Great. Now what?"

"Where were you? He has been waiting for 10 minuets! He almost came to find you." Vikta pulled Guan behind a screen and pulled at her alter neck fasten.

"What are you doing?"

"You have to change. We have a petal pink uniform for the massage rooms now."

"Since when!" Vikta yanked the top off and expertly replaced it with a baby pink equivalent.

"Since this morning." Guan coughed as she was dowsed with sweet perfumes.

"What are you."

"Doing? swimming up steam. What does it look like?"

"Why are you covering me in this stuff…it does smell nice…" Guan sniffed up, loving the sweet nectar smell.

"Because, well, erm. Get in there!" Vikta quickly replaced her blue hanging cloth for the pink one and pushed her through the open door. Guan looked to the ground, felt Vikta pull her bobble out from behind and heard the door shut. Her long black dread locks fanned down her back and made a perfect veil at either side of her face. When her golden eyes lifted, they shot wide open. Stood before her was a 7 foot, brown dreadlocked, yellow eyed hunter with dark brown skin and his mandibles smirking at her.

"Why if it isn't about time, Miss Night." Thwei chuckled and pulled his long black robes off. She wanted to seethe at him, smack and claw at him. But she held her tongue and bowed her head at him instead. When she looked up, his robes were at his feet and all he was wearing was his black hanging cloth. "I took everything else off. I was told I wouldn't need them. I was told…they would get in the way." He clattered and slowly walked towards her. But Guan turned, closed and locked the door, turned back to face him and stood her full 8 feet.

"You were told correctly. Please, how may I." She was reluctant to say it. But she knew she had to. "Serve you today."

"You could tell me more about yourself." Thwei sat on the huge padded table and patted the space next to him. "Come, join me."

"Yes sir." Guan pursed her mandibles and sat at the other end of the table to him.

"Now come on." He chuckled. "I don't bite." She shuffled closer and didn't like the lusty look in his yellow eyes. "…Unless you ask me to." his hand rested on her thigh and she looked away.

Violence isn't the answer. Violence isn't the answer. She repeated in her head and firmly rested her hands on her knees.

"My name is Guan."

"Well no." he chuckled. But she didn't hear him. She was on autopilot now.

"I have a sister, two years younger than I called Dachande."

"That's very nice but."

"I have worked here since I and my sister were pups, turned out from having a bad blood in the family."

"Oh…I'm so sorry." he sounded sincere and removed his hand from her thigh, and placed it on her shoulder.

"Mistress Paya took us in and we met her daughter. And every other child she took in. I work, I eat and drink, I sleep, and then I do it all over again the next day. Please, there is nothing more." Guan looked directly at the opposite wall.

"…You're terrified of me…" she tensed as he pulled her closer. "Please don't be. I mean you know harm."

"No. but you mean something else." She whimpered and wrapped her arms around herself.

"No. I never meant. I mean I." He removed his hands and looked away. "Did you think I wanted you here because…I was going to force myself on you?"

"…yes…" Guan whimpered as he took her shoulders and forced her to face him.

"I have more honour than that! I would never force myself upon anyone." He let her go and got to his feet. "I asked for you…because you took my breath away from the first time I saw you." He confessed and folded his arms, his back still to her. "So yes. I am attracted to you, greatly in fact. I wanted to get to know you. Yes my methods are different, but my intentions were always honourable. I am quite concerned that I came across to you as someone who would rape…"

"I am sorry." Guan looked down, ashamed at herself. "I thought. I shouldn't have. Please, accept my apology."

"It is accepted." He said, yet he still hurt. "I am sorry about your family. It is always harsh for your loved ones to disown you like they did."

"You have no idea."

"I do actually. I showed great potential on my first Chiva (trail to become a hunter and earn the right to the hunt). I was scouted to become a member of the Cor'ja. My family didn't like it and we had an argument. One thing led to another and well. I left home, my parents disowned me and I became a Member of the Cor'ja clan." He turned to face her again, his pleasant smile reassuring. "But on the bright side, I didn't have to look after a younger sibling."

"D is a pain at times. She is always whining about something." She chuckled and stood up. "This is a massage room for a reason. Please, lay down. We can talk at the same time."

"Thanks. My back has been killing me for months now."

"Didn't stop you from smacking my ass…" she mumbled under her breath as he laid front down.

"No, but it was worth it." he clattered at the sudden blush on her face. "Oh, one more thing. I have very good hearing."

"I noticed." She said weakly and pulled a bottle from the cabinet.

"So you told me of your past and I told you of mine." Guan stood to his right and started to smooth the oils over his skin. She was glad she was wrong about him. It was a lot easier for her this way. Though he was proving to still be just a randy bugger. "So what else is there to know about Miss Night? Your past I know. You have golden eyes, long dark hair, your tall, you have magical hands…." He groaned as she un-knotted a tense muscle.

"You think I am good? You should see Kantra. She can massage circles around me. She has the real magical hands."

"Don't put yourself down. This feels great. Oh, I almost forgot. I pulled your hair yesterday. I wanted to apologies, but I couldn't be seen apologising now can I? So I had to make it look good."

"Your apology is accepted. Just don't do it again, or else." She clattered and leaned against the table a little more. He wasn't as bad as she had first thought. Alone, he was an entire different Yautja.

"Or else what?" she didn't answer and rubbed her thumbs into the small of his back, making him groan again. "No I mean it. I am intrigued. What will you do if I pull your hair again?" The naughty bad boy tone he used, let her know what he was hoping for.

"It involves tar and strips of wax."

"Ouch."

"Exactly." She chuckled and stopped as he shifted. He laid on his back and leaned up on his elbows.

"My legs have been aching ever since I helped take down a queen a few months back. Could you do anything for that?"

"I could…but…" she blushed and looked at his lower half. "Where exactly does it hurt? Because usually leg injuries are at the shins, the knees….and the inner thighs." She blushed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"All three actually." He tried to sound serious, but he loved it really.

"Ok." she gulped and crawled up onto the table. He sat up and bent his knees. "First the shins." She nervously felt and smoothed the oils over his shins and moved gently up his legs until she was underneath his knees. "And the knees." her hands traced every muscle up and down his knees and to his ankles. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"Right…lay down." She gulped as he laid back, his legs still bent. She passed her hands slowly up the insides of his legs and blushed as a really strong musk hit her hard. That meant one thing. He was aroused.

"I'm sorry."

"No, its ok." She answered weakly as she let her hands travel deeper and gave off her own musk. She just didn't realise it. But Thwei sure as hell did.

"Well well. Nice to know I'm not alone." He clattered and sat up quickly. This made her hands brush up against his very hard shaft before she pulled back. They were both silent as Guan was crouched between his legs, and he moved ever so closer to her. Inch by inch.

When his face was inches from hers, Guan launched forwards and ensnared her arms around his neck. Their mandibles brushed together in a melting passion, hands travelled over each other's bodies until the point were Thwei's hands were up the back of her top.

Someone outside dropped a bucket and that brought them back to the world or reality.

"We have to stop. If we are caught."

"You're right." But he still kissed her madly.

"We should stop." But she just kissed him too. They eventually pulled away and straightened up. They had spent way too long together and people would be getting suspicious as it was.

"I will see you again." he promised and pulled her close.

"You better. Now that I have let you in, I won't be able to let you out."

"I have no intention of leaving."

He smacked her bum lightly and left to his room. Guan tried to act normal for the rest of her duties, but couldn't help but smile. You better not leave…because I might just come after you…

With Kantra after Guan left.

"Damn I have been sat here for an hour and I am going insane!" she pursed her lips together and rolled onto her front. She had been lying on the floor since just after Guan left. And she had over a week of this? How was she going to survive? A glimmer of light caught her attention…the daggers. They seemed to call to her as they glistened in the light. Her hands were soon wrapped around the handles and she held them both up in the air. Her eyes travelled along the perfectly crafted blades and span them both once. They're so light… she couldn't help herself. She stood in a low fighting stance and brandished the daggers, one in each hand and stepped forwards, swiping fro each side to meet in the centre. They cut through the air effortlessly. Kantra couldn't suppress the grin that appeared on her face as she practised there, with the daggers. That was it, she couldn't just stay cooped up in her room like an animal in a cage. She needed to keep herself busy with something, or she would go insane with boredom. She couldn't practise properly anyway, there wasn't enough room to. Not here anyway.

Kantra laid back in her hammock and span the hilt of the daggers on each index finger. In the back of her mind, a loud, nagging voice kept shouting at her. They don't belong to you. You need to give them back. But how could she do that? Just walk up to him and put them in his hands? That would not, not, work. She huffed and held the twin daggers to her chest as she gazed out her window. But he wanted to fight me before, when he thought I was just another Yautja. It isn't even the case of dressing up again and giving them back. He knows I'm an Ooman now.

She pouted.

He deserves to lose his favourite daggers anyway from the way he treated me. Even when he thought I was just like him. And then he looked like he wanted to kill me after he found out what I really was. What would stop him from just killing me on sight?

She sighed and stroked one of the leather handles. But they do belong to him. And they are special to the Cor'ja. What if these daggers are proof of his clan? Or his rank? He had two after all, the other one that Guan met only had one. What if he is in big trouble from losing them? I was told an Elder was with them, and he is just a hunter after all. But she remembered what her mother had told her.

"Their leader at present is a Hunter, who is not a Hunter. For no Hunter could chill the spines of every Arbitrator anywhere into submission, like he does. He is a warrior, with God like strength and skill in battle. And out…"

She shuffled nervously. She didn't know what was worse, that she had something that didn't belong to her, that they belonged to a Cor'ja hunter who wanted to kill her, or that the hunter had something so horrid about him, that he could scare even the mighty Arbitrators. But what could that be?

Does that matter? Those daggers belong to him. They are his and will mean a lot to him. You are a thief if you keep them.

She growled and started to pace the room. She finally gave in to the voice and strapped the daggers to her hanging cloth, pulled on a large blue hooded cloak and made her way to the welcoming hall. All she needed to do was ask Paya or who ever was on reception to tell her which room Cetanu would be staying in, and put the daggers there before he checked in. Simple. What could go wrong?

She peered around the curtain and found her mother behind reception. But as she pulled out into the crowd of staff, she wished she had stayed in her room.

The main doors opened with a huge foreboding creak as many Yautja clad in black robes appeared into view on the staircase. There was a deathly silence as many hunters made a half circle formation inside, facing the reception and a very nervous Paya. They made 4 rows of semi circles until one figure alone walked through them and to the front, with two others with him. It was obvious from the familiar hooded cloak that the centre warrior was Cetanu, to his left was Jafna, but to his right was another Elder, also clad in black and blue.

Paya gulped and put on her best smile.

"Welcome to the Hunter's rest and bath house." Kantra was entranced by the display as Cetanu stepped forward. And then something happened that would remain in everyone's memories for as long as they lived. Cetanu pulled at his cloak and let it drop to the floor. He had long black dread locks down to his mid back with golden rings, carved with real charms for battle. His Awu'asa was pure, polished black with the Cor'ja symbol in Silver in the centre of his chest piece. He was 9 feet tall and had a body of a master gladiator, a warrior that had trained for many years. Yet he had no scars. Not that she was looking for them. His skin was a deep chaos black with no cream, no markings, just black, his skin. As was his body mesh and his mask looked just as menacing as his predator based body language. It was just as black as his armour, and had two large red eye pieces that made him look like death himself! His talons were long and deadly, also black, and he held a large golden Naginata with the same flame design blades as the daggers. Only a lot larger and more vicious looking. But that wasn't all. Then a large black, skeletal tail whipped out from behind him and the spear of the tail looked just like that…of a hard meat…of a deadly Queen hard meat.

Kantra's fear betrayed her as she alone gasped at his intimidating façade. And she gasped loud enough…to get her the attention of the very person she was supposed to hide from.

Cetanu.

He looked towards the direction of the soft, but audible sound. It was her! She may be in a hooded cloak, but he could still see her face as clear as day. And the stray tendrils of wild red hair made her identity known to him also.

Kantra saw him look right at her and felt all the colour fade from her face. Paya also saw the fixation of his gaze, and wanted to despair. "My Welcome guests." She implored. "Please tell me which rooms you will be staying in, and I shall assign you all, who wish it, a tour of my humble rest house." Everyone but Cetanu was listening.

It was her! She was right there, only mere strides away from him and he had only just arrived! This was perfect…

Cetanu looked to Jafna and nodded. His right hand Elder walked to Paya and gave her their requirements.

"His Lordship wishes that the first row of the clan will be on the lowest level of rooms, the next row the next, then the next row the next, and the same for the next along with myself and my fellow Elder. But my Lord wishes to be alone on you upper most floor."

"It will be done. Please, make yourselves at home." Paya ushered one of the boy's wings to see to the guests and tried to get to Kantra before Cetanu could. But she was way too old to intercept Cetanu on his course to her daughter. But Kantra was not one to let danger just come as it pleased. She ran back to the curtain and soon heard his heavy, but swift foot steps behind her. If her memory was correct, he was a lot faster than her and would catch her if she didn't plan this right. She ran down the steps, along the corridor and into her room. She was about to climb out the window, but he took a tight hold of the end of her billowing cape. He yanked her back and knew what to do. She ran on her instincts and sank quickly into the splits, undoing her cape as she did. She then span her legs around, flipped herself back to her feet and for a moment, both of them simply stared at the other. Kantra weighed up her chances of making for the window before he could catch her, and he weighed up his chances of catching her before she made for the window. Both waited for the other to make the first move. But neither did. Kantra glanced to the hammock at her side and then went to action. But not the sort he expected. She simply laid in the hammock and closed her eyes. Was this a trick? Was she waiting for him to take the bait, for her to spring her trap? But to be honest she was far too terrified to think clearly enough to be formidable in strategy. He took a step forward, and saw her flinch. He took another, and she yelped softly. She could hear every step he made, until he stood over her. He looked her up and down, looking for anything she could use against him…and saw his daggers.

"I think…they belong to you." She faltered and sat up, pulling them from her side. She put her hands forward, holding both weapons for him and he cocked his head to one side. He scowled under his mask as her eyes kept looking to his swaying tail and back to her lap. "Please. I didn't mean to take them. They were stuck to my mace and." But he raised a large clawed hand, silencing her with a whimper. "I'm sorry…"

"You refused to fight me." he slowly took one of the daggers and returned it to his left sheath. "Why?" Kantra closed her eyes tight. She just wanted to be at work, with everyone else. She didn't want to be pray…

"I I, I just." She stuttered and jumped slightly when he took hold of one of her wrists. He pulled her to her feet, and waited for her to continue. But he still held her wrists loosely. That, confused her. "I don't like to fight. I, don't like to hurt people. I just, like to train." She sniffed. Her entire body quivered, her fear intensifying with each moment she was stuck in the same room with him.

"You are trained in the way of the hunt. Who taught you?"

"My mother." She still looked to her feet, feeling very small.

"She didn't teach you very well. She forgot to teach you to have a backbone." He hissed. But didn't expect a set of fiery green eyes to stare back at him.

"My mother taught me well. She even gave me her armour. But she also taught me that all life is precious and deserves respect. I didn't want to fight you because I didn't want to hurt you. I respected you. You didn't deserve to have me fight you. So I didn't." He had to smile under his mask as he felt her clench his fists and scowl at him. "I happen to believe that fighting should be done in the hunt, against the pray. Not each other." She stood up on her tip toes and stared bloody murder into his eyes. But he threw his head back and clattered with great mirth.

"Fighting each other makes us better at what we do. We learn through fighting, we thrive on it." He slipped the other dagger from her hand and slid it into his right sheath, feeling that her fighting spirit was better than having her fear him. Why, he didn't quite know yet... "We have fought each for other millennia, to prove our worth, for our honour, to prove ourselves as worthy mates…" he then looked down at her wrist. How long had he been holding on to her? "You have only been taught the bad."

"That is pretty rich coming from a bad blood." She instantly regretted that one. His hand contracted around her wrist until it was so painful, she couldn't hide the pain from her face as tears fell down her face. But she refused to cry, she scowled at him. She was afraid of him at first, but now she despised him. he had the nerve to insult her mother's abilities as a warrior, her honour, laugh in her face, make her feel two inches small and talk down to her like she was a rebellious pup. He had disrespected her so much, that she was too livid to be scared anymore.

Cetanu growled deeply from his throat as his tail whipped back and forth behind him.

"How dare you!" He yanked on her wrist and forced her to come closer to him. "How dare you accuse me of being a Bad Blood!" he hissed, his mandibles clicking furiously and forgot his strength. Kantra whimpered and dropped to one knee. Her face still held her scowl, but her eyes showed the fear and pain she felt. Her wrist was burning red as blood seeped through small wounds caused by his sharp talons. She whimpered louder and looked to her feet, breaking eye contact. This finally made Cetanu question why she was in pain…until he looked to the same wrist he was holding. He stepped back and released her, like her skin had burnt him. Kantra curled up on the floor, cradling her blooding wrist and biting her tongue. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction to know he had made her cry, as well as bleed. But Cetanu wouldn't have noticed if she did. He couldn't take his eyes off his hand. Her blood, her deep crimson blood stared back at him from his palm and he took another step back. She sniffed and sat on her heels, her red hair a mess from manhandling and her breathing rapid. He took a step towards her and reached out to her, but the door opened and caught them both by surprise.

Paya ran inside with two of her strongest boys.

"Kantra?" Paya ran to her quivering daughter and cradled her to her chest. She then looked up to Cetanu with fear in her eyes. "What did you do to my daughter?" But Cetanu said nothing and simply stared into the hateful eyes of the wounded Ooman. Those eyes were deeper than any cave or ocean, and held more emotion than he had ever seen. He stepped towards her, and made a move to touch her, but two sets or hands clamped onto his shoulder plates and stopped him. He hissed and turned to the two young males. They instantly released him and moved out of his way. He turned back to Kantra. If he wasn't wearing his mask, they would have seen the horror in his eyes, the shock of his actions. He growled in frustration and stormed out of the hammock room, leaving Paya to fuss over her daughter while the two males stood guard.