Chapter 4

Firstborn Teh'jek and A'Nubia bodies were lying unconscious and heavily sedated on the metal tables in the hunt ship medical bay. The bodies had their awu'asas removed to be replaced with loincloth coverings along with a tube type top for A'Nubia. Injuries and scarring on both of the bodies were extensive. Healers, were already in the process of preparing the clan ship's medical bay for the arrival of the two bodies and hunters along with two assigned guards. The pilot waved his hand over the console lightly touching the control panel. He contacted the clan ship and requested permission to enter to dock in the transport bay. With permission affirmed the pilot proceeded to turn off the ship's engines off to allow the tracking beam's gravitational pull to safely guide the ship into the transport bay and scan it for possible threats. The chief healer and a guard readily awaited in the transport bay to receive the bodies to transport to medical bay.

"Elder A'Ko we have arrived."

"C'jit!" A'Ko lowly growled with a deep breath stirring in his seat lifting the back of his head off the ship hull realizing it would be awhile before he would have this moment of peace again.

The pilot and the Hunt Master looked at each other with mandibles clicking proceeded to have a barely concealed chuckle amongst themselves while instructing the hunters to prepare for docking.

Rolling his eyes, a short low growl vibrated in his chest. Moments of irritation like these made him long to be a lone hunter where he was out of reach of the political bull on the clan ship. Staying so long on the developing backwater planet hadn't helped either. Initially unwillingly wanting to accept the assignment he grew to enjoy the freedom. Training A'Nubia and then her sisters was alot easier than a group of thick skulled youngbloods and Blooded which he hated to admit. As the sisters grew in their training he could actually leave A'Nubia with training instructions for days at a time to find better kv'var. Training would resume with the same intensity in his absence and the females kept each other in line which impressed him with them being so mature at such young ages. Though he experienced better kv'var on other planets, over the past few years Sadeh made spending time there worth it. Regardless, he wouldn't allow his irritation to affect the celebratory mood of the newly Blooded. Passing ones chiva was a major milestone in a Yautja life path that sent many a hunter to Cetanu. So in realizing he was letting the situation affect his zazin he laughed at himself and with a roar he joined in the hunters celebration.

It was now dusk and frantic distressed cries could be heard in the alleys. Invading smells of rotting burning flesh with blood and sickness was pungent to A'Nubia's nasal cavity causing her body to start convulsing from memories. She quickly gained her bearing and proceeded down the city's alleys to locate Azizi. Upon hearing of the uprising she had immediately put on her hooded cloak and left the palace. Word of the uprising from the palace guards of slaves and citizens who were adamantly opposed to the sacrafice ceremony for the "gods" to hunt had reached her. Sadeh had previously explained to her that the ones opposed believed they no longer needed the "gods" to grow and were making progress on their own. It was known to some that even whole civilizations were destroyed when these hunts weren't successful which made even those who had accumulated wealth over the years secretly fund efforts of the rebellion.

A'Nubia believed strongly that loyalty was not to be wasted on allegiances, they are fickle and can change. True loyalty was for those that were bonded to you more than blood..earned and not given away lightly. Her sisters didn't have dying loyalty from her because of blood..it was earned.

"Azizi!"

"What!" she responded irritated from concentrating on stitching up a guards laceration.

There were a group of four rebel soldiers who stopped across from them in the alley who appeared slightly tattered but not seriously injured. Though they were stealing glances one of the rebel soldiers in the group made no attempt to hide his staring. In fact his blatant staring and comments to the group had made the others more embolden in their actions. She recognized that dark look in his eyes and saw it amongst the group. Walking closely pass her as if to appear as leaving he suddenly turned and snatched the cloak off of her shoulders. A'Nubia's body jerked at the force in his pull moving slightly backwards. "You have something for us?" he said with an evil grin looking at her, back to the group chuckling in grim amusement and then back to them. The sound of cutting bone, sinew and blood hummed in A'Nubia's ears. Her blades cut through the soldiers necks and throats leaving their heads to fall unto their back shoulder blades. Screams of people running frantically looking for safety caused the alley to once again to be filled with chaos and fear.

"Azizi!"

Thickness of the hot humid air accompanied with blood caused Azizi hair to stick to her head, neck and face though pulled back. Engrossed in treating wounds the clothes she wore and her hands were saturated in blood as she was tending to the overwhelming medical needs of soldiers, slaves, citizens and rebels alike ignoring A'Nubia's presence until they were attacked. "Done." Jumping up she grabbed her pouch of medical supplies and they quickly departed to leave the city.

A dark thick dense fog had slowly formed around her until it suddenly lifted and now it was morning. She now was at home looking at a woman she now recognized as Azizi. Before she realized it she ran up and hugged her crying, "Azizi, Azizi." As if she didn't hear her she started talking to Sadeh. It was apparent she was angry and waited up intentionally for her to return home bothering A'Nubia's sleep in the process.

"Where have you been?" We were worried.

A'Nubia watched herself shrug and look at Sadeh. They knew Sadeh wasn't one for needing to answer questions especially from them.

Realizing she wasn't getting anywhere she threw her hands up releasing a heavy sigh and went to change the subject.

"Fine. I need to go gather herbs. My apothecary supplies are drastically low and I've been waiting for the both of you for over two weeks!" she said with her voice laden with sarcasam.

A'Nubia watched herself give Sadeh a look that asked is she serious? and said, "Today?" Remembering thinking sometimes Azizi could be so unreasonable when a thought got caught in her head...Guess its the family trait.

Sadeh calmly responded,"the gods hunt at temple today and we are to be nowhere near the sacred hunting grounds especially if..."

"If what?!"

"Azizi!" both sisters responded.

Deja vu suddenly hits her and without missing a beat in the conversation she copies Sadeh's response, "Put on your awu'asa.

A shriek releases out of A'Nubia as she cries out"Nooooo!" She runs to Azizi trying to grab and shake her each time her hands glide through her body like smoke.

"Why?" Azizi responds.

"Put it on or don't go." A'Nubia watches herself nod in agreement.

Azizi sighed and resigned. "Alright"

"Please don't go!", An'Nubia cries out and realizes her pleas are only for her and their ancestor gods ears.

The thick dense fog slowly begins to surround her as she frantically swipes it away causing it to rescind. Seeing it appearing to become less dense she begins to calm down as her body tires and breaths become labored. As if the fog sensed her, she was completely consumed and swept up in its cloud to be dropped in the field before Azizi.

"Go!" she yells again and again until all strength in her voice is spent. With a voice that has now gone hoarse and helpless she reaches out to touch her sister.

"Only Anubius awaits you here."

Author Notes:

Thank you CheyChey101 for following and reading. Hope you enjoy the update.

It's my goal to become more creative and that is only accomplished by doing.