Kujhade lay among the soft pelts and leathers, looking up at the ceiling and wondering just what he thought he was going to do with her in his bed. His mating season was almost upon him, and it seemed that she would have participated, but when she'd touched him it felt odd. He couldn't remember if he had ever been touch like that before in his life, and decided that he probably hadn't. He couldn't stop his mind from recalling the feel of her soft skin and her breasts, and the soft strangeness of her mouth. The way she had suckled on his thumb was sensual although he couldn't have said why. It didn't seem like an act connected in any way to breeding or sex at all.

While lying there, Kujhade was deciding that he kind of didn't mind having Jasmine around. Perhaps he even sort of liked having her around. She was resilient to say the least. She had accepted her situation, she had not been a coward, and she was not in a constant state of fear or sadness. If she was, she wasn't showing it to him and that was an honorable trait that warranted her some respect. Too tired to think about it anymore, Kujhade rolled over in an attempt to get some sleep.

Jasmine had been tossing and turning all night. She was horny for one thing thanks to Lite Brite and his explorations. She was still slightly disturbed by the fact that she felt more than a little turned on by him. The other issue was she was absolutely tweaking for a high, but she was trying to preserve the last of the marijuana she still had. It was a difficult thing not only because Jasmine was a complete drug addict, but because without it she would remember, and she didn't want to face those demons.

You didn't used to be this way Jasmine, my little Jazzy girl. You don't have anyone to blame but yourself for it though

"I do have somebody else to blame," Jasmine muttered to herself, trying to drive the voice of her mother away.

"I can blame him for what he did, and I can blame you for trusting him over me," Jasmine said again, her face a mask of concentration and will power. She didn't have the mental energy for this.

No! That was your fault! I should have known you were a little slut, I should have known you would let…..

Jasmine shot up, struggling to unravel herself from the covers. She scrambled to get her iPod, shoving the earbuds in way too far and blasting some music. She breathed a sigh of relief and sagged against her favorite wall, gathering some of the covers and pulling them up around her shoulders. Jasmine rocked from side to side, trying to drown both the voice and the imagery that it came with. Her eyes strayed over to her jeans where the last of the weed resided. She was about to reach for it, but something inside her made her pull her hand back. It would be gone in a little while, and when it was what would she do then? Jasmine would be forced by the lack of options to face all the things she used the drugs, and the men, and the bad attitude, and the sex to cover up. The thought alone scared her more than her current circumstances.

The music was starting to work, as Jasmine felt her lids grow heavy and her mother's voice grow distant. It would be better tomorrow. It had to be.

Jasmine awoke to complete silence. She begrudgingly sat up, touching a finger to her swollen eyes. She must have been crying all night….again. Jazzy gathered together all the little toiletries she'd been given the day she arrived, and headed to the bathing area. She took the time to really familiarize herself with what was actually in the room, hoping that she didn't need help to work any of it or mess anything up. It was basically a bathhouse, and with the amount of heat pumping through the air ducts, it was just a notch or two under being a sauna. In the middle of the floor was a very large tub, which was about the size of a small swimming pool. It might have been water, but it wasn't clear and smelled herbal or medicinal. There was a column off to one side however, which looked suspiciously like where one might shower. When she walked up to it, it immediately turned on, shooting water everywhere and scaring her half to death.

Once she realized that it was only water, she chuckled to herself and stripped to jump in. The only weird thing was that there was no partition, or shower door or curtain. She opened the small travel size bottle of cheap shower gel, and poured it onto the equally cheap washcloth she'd gotten from the crates. Even back on the ship that brought her here there had been regular showers, and it felt good to continue getting them. A girl could get used to being human again. As she washed, Jasmine began to softly sing the words to one of her favorite songs, Bag Lady by Erykah Badu. She closed her eyes and let the water run over her fluffy, curly, long hair and sang.

Bag lady, you gon' hurt yo back
Draggin' all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is you

Jasmine had started to get into the song, taking her time under the wonderfully warm running water. She didn't notice the predator rising from the depths of the tub, where only the top of his crest to his eyes were above water level. He had been bathing, and doing his daily training for holding his breath for long periods of time, when he heard her come in. He wasn't going to disturb her, but when he heard her make the strange noise she was now making, he became intrigued.

Without making a single sound, Kujhade watched her as she moved. He watched as the water ran over her naked form. He thought for the most part she really did look like a smaller version of a yautja female. Her rear end was ample as were her breasts. He thought she could use some training to make her body firmer, but otherwise Kujhade thought he was finding some attraction for her. That had started yesterday when he was touching her, her skin was soft and pliable. Now, she was making a pleasant noise that he had never heard an ooman make before. The yautja both sang and dance. It wasn't a huge part of their culture, but they weren't foreign to it either. The difference was the singing and dancing for them, was tied to sending off the unblooded to their chivas. This was very different, but she seemed to be enjoying it either way. If he were being honest with himself, he was also enjoying her show. She had begun to dance, the water glistening off her body and hair. He couldn't help a low purr from escaping him, rippling the water around him.

Jasmine opened her eyes, and looked around startled when she saw just the top of Kujhade's head and his eyes. She hadn't known he was there, and it reminded her just what he was and that she shouldn't forget it.

"Kujhade," was all she could manage. He rose out of the water in all his naked glory, purring as he came towards her.

"How did you get in here so quietly?" She asked not even sure if she wanted the answer to that.

"I was already here, in the water," he replied taking in the sight of her. It made her feel two parts uncomfortable, and one part desirable.

Jasmine stepped away from the column, and as she suspected the water stopped. Kujhade strode over to a bin full of furs, grabbed two, and tossed one to her while keeping one for himself. He began to towel off, standing in front of her and keeping up a low purr. Jasmine could have sworn he was trying to tantalize her with how deliberate he was being in his movements. He toweled off very slowly, pleased with how she was staring at his body. Never before had a female ever shown open appreciation for his physique no matter how he showed off, and he was very much enjoying her eyes all over him. His plan was to create these situations where they would be forced to look at each other, with the possibility to incite attraction. He thought if he was successful in this, she would be more receptive and willing to mate when the time came.

"Kujhade," Jazzy said, snapping her fingers to get his attention. "Kujhaaadeeee," she said again in a sing-song voice. He gave a single grunt, with his eyes snapping up from her body to look at her face. He hadn't meant to get quite that distracted.

"You think it'll be alright if we get out of here today? I wanna see the other women," Jazzy said on her way past him to leave.

"Sei-i," he replied.

This was good. She wanted to go around with him, be seen with him. Kujhade didn't know how to feel about that. He never really liked oomans in general, and was ashamed that he liked Jasmine as much as he did. She was agreeable for the most part, and she gave him a new feeling. Jasmine wasn't constantly avoiding him, and she had even willingly touched him without disgust over his looks. It didn't seem like his abnormal coloring was of any concern to her, and that was a very new thing for him. Certainly something to get used to.

She had went to put on that little loincloth thing he wanted her to wear, along with her tank top. He was waiting for her at the door, but when he saw her he immediately started shaking his head.

"No," Kujhade said, reaching for her loincloth to take it off. Jazzy swiped at his hands and stepped back.

"Now hold up, I'm alright with giving in to your little kinky rule about walking around here naked, but I'm not walking around this ship with nothing on my ass," Jazzy said, upset that he would even suggest it.

"Your clothes. Put on your clothes," Kujhade said and then she understood. A sly smile found its way to her face.

"Oooh, okay I see what this is. You only want me half naked around you, but not around the whole crew," she said as Kujhade nodded.

"So does that make me officially your girlfriend?" Jazzy asked playfully, with her hand on her hip and her hair tossed to one side. Kujhade looked confused.

"Does this mean you're my man? You know, are we together Lite Brite?" she asked again playfully and was startled when he stepped all the way up to her and pressed himself against her.

"Yes, you are my mate. No other male can have you," Kujhade said, stunned that he actually felt the possessive feelings to accompany the words.

He understood what she meant. She was asking if she was his mate, and she was regardless of having not done the act. Kujhade didn't want the other males on the ship getting any ideas. He knew many of them jumped at the chance to have human women around to mate with, but his wasn't on the menu. No, he wanted her to wear her own clothes when out and about. If any male challenged him for her, he would hurt them plain and simple.

"Okay, Kujhade," Jazzy said almost bashfully, and immediately went to put on her jeans.

When she was finally ready he took her by the hand and led her to the elevators. They got on and rode for a short while in comfortable silence. When the doors opened again, Jazzy could hear the sound of people, and it brought a smile to her face. She hadn't realized how much she missed human contact.

A short distance down a hall opened up into a very large comfortable looking space. The floors were lined with soft pillows and furs of every kind. To Jazzy's amazement music was playing over some kind of sound system, and she saw a group of women sitting all around. Brenda was sitting in the middle and Jasmine was pleased to see she was looking really well. Jazzy had thought maybe the withdrawal would have been too much for the blonde, but apparently that wasn't the case.

"Brenda!" Jasmine said, running to the woman with her arms open.

"Hey sweet meat, how've you been these last few days?" Brenda asked as the two women hugged briefly.

"Well you know, it is what it is. I'll be alright," Jasmine answered. Truth was she was only okay during the days. It was her nights that were hell on wheels.

"So how have you been holding up? You look like you keep up a lot of shit. You ain't down here wreaking havoc on these poor aliens are you?" Jazzy joked, glad to see the blonde break out into a surprisingly girly giggle.

"Shit, these damn predators are something else I'm tellin' ya. You know they got us doing what we do best right?" Brenda said conspiratorially as she beckoned Jazzy to sit with her.

"What? Like a brothel? Have you fucked one yet?" Jazzy asked as she plopped down on a very soft pillow.

"One? Girl please, I've had two a day since I been here. Some of the girls couldn't take it though. Committed suicide right after we got down here," Brenda said, crossing herself.

"Oh," Jasmine managed, thinking back on the choice she had been given not too long ago.

"I mean, but are you alright? They haven't hurt you have they?" Jasmine asked. Brenda shook her head, and started grinning.

"To be honest as hell with you, this has been some of the best sex I've ever had in my life. They're very considerate actually. A bit on the savage side, and I hate all that goddamn roaring they do, but otherwise it's like screwing the best porn star times a hundred," Brenda said as they both laughed.

"May I ask a personal question Brenda?" Jasmine asked, to which the blonde nodded her assent.

"How have you been doing with, you know, the addiction and the withdrawal and stuff?" Jasmine knew that was a sensitive subject for any addict, but the blonde looked much better and Jazzy wanted to know.

"I think these smart motherfuckers knew there was something not quite right with us. I don't know if they knew anything about drugs per se, but when I got too bad off they gave me this really gross shit to drink. I hate it, but it does ease all the shit I go through. I still miss my shit though, I'm not gonna lie. You?" Brenda asked.

"I got the smallest fucking bag of weed known to man, and I'm trying to stench it out. It ain't gonna make it though," Jazzy replied. Brenda nodded.

Just at that moment Kujhade, who had been standing sentinel and not allowing any other males in the space, checked his gauntlet.

"I have been summoned by the high elder. Come. I will take you back," Kujhade said holding out a clawed hand to her.

"I wanna stay Kujhade," Jazzy said, waiting to see his reaction.

Kujhade held his hand out a few moments more, before clicking his mandibles together tightly in annoyance. Slowly he retracted his hand, thinking that it wasn't a good idea to leave her there. Any male could come in there and mate her, and he wouldn't be around to prevent it. On the other hand, she had not asked for much or been very difficult to deal with. If being with her own kind was a comfort, then he would ensure it was available to her.

"Do not leave this room. I will come back for you. Do you understand?" Kujhade demanded in his most stern voice.

"Alright damn. I won't leave," Jasmine answered not really liking being told what to do like that.

With that, Kujhade turned to leave. Before long, he'd made it to the elder's quarters.

"Kujhade," the Elder said turning away from a large control panel and screen that took up the entire wall.

"For the last day or two, the ship's bio-scan has been down. Usually it rights itself, but not this time. Until this problem is rectified, I am assigning a few hunters to patrol the entire lower quadrant of the ship," the Elder said.

"You want me to do this patrol? Are there any others who can perform this duty?" Kujhade asked. This wasn't something that an honored warrior was asked to do. Out of respect Kujhade didn't say so, but there was something Bakuub wasn't telling him.

"I have sent some of the youngbloods to do early patrol. I wish for you and one other to take late watch. You can never be too careful," Bakuub said, dismissing Kujhade.

Kujhade took his leave, still not liking the menial assignment. Generally while they did tend to take orders from their Elder, it wasn't ran like a military. It wouldn't be a good idea to disregard this assignment, although Kujhade's rank would have allowed it. Perhaps it was best to investigate things for himself. There was something in the Elders eyes that concerned him. Bakuub was stalwart and stoic. Very few things could draw a reaction from him, which was why he'd made it to be an elder in charge of a clan ship.

"Kujhade, I was looking for you," Mar'cte said striding up to the taller yautja. Kujhade didn't want to be distracted. He needed to make sure no males had gotten around to Jasmine.

"What is it Mar'cte? I have business to attend," Kujhade said, not meaning to sound so put out.

"Hunting. Thought you might want to break away from your mating frenzy long enough to recall that you do hunt," Mar'cte said with uplifted lower mandibles. Kujhade thought he must have been the happiest yautja he'd ever witnessed.

"No, I've been given another assignment. Patrolling the lower quadrant of the ship," Kujhade admitted.

"What in Paya's name did you do to piss off Bakuub?" Mar'cte asked unable to hide the mirth in his eyes.

"Nothing Mar'cte. He didn't say, but I think he's more concerned about the fact that the ship's bio-scan is down in that area than he's letting on. He says he's just being cautious, and maybe that's true. So I'm on patrol in a short while. I've got to go," Kujhade said walking off without giving Mar'cte a chance to respond.

It hadn't taken him long to get back to the place that he had explicitly told Jasmine not to leave. There were women there and fellow males looking to mate, but Jasmine and the woman she was talking to were nowhere to be found. Kujhade growled in frustration and fledgling anger. How could she disobey? Didn't she know the risks? She would never be allowed out again since she couldn't listen to simple orders. Angrily he burst into several rooms, ready to kill any male who dared mate her. He'd interrupted a few mating sessions, but still no Jasmine.

Kujhade tried to calm down enough to think. Perhaps she went back to his quarters. He raced back looking for her, but when he got there, he saw no sign of her. There was only one other place to look before he would have to simply tear the ship apart piece by piece.

He went back down past the pillow room to a storage room not too far from it. Down a short hall, and up a small flight of stairs that he cleared with one leap, Kujhade walked in on a scene that made him livid. The blonde was on the floor trying to recover apparently. A male almost as large as Kujhade himself had Jasmine cornered, and he seemed to be pinning her against the wall with one hand, and ripping at her clothes with the other. She had something in her hands, and he could smell the fear coming from her.

Kujhade let out a tremendous roar, complete with arched back, flared mandibles, and claws splayed. The other male barely had a chance to react before Kujhade was across the room and on him in a flurry of claws, dreads, and eventually blood. Although the other male was of comparable size and strength, he was obviously younger than, and not as experienced as Kujhade. The fight lasted all of two or three minutes, and ended with Kujhade kneeling on the other male's chest with his wrist blades at his throat.

"Get a good look at that ooman female," Kujhade growled. The bested male reluctantly looked Jasmine's way.

"She belongs to me. If you touch her again, I will not have as much mercy. I will not speak of your dishonorable actions of attacking two unarmed females…this time. Thank Paya." Kujhade demanded before getting up.

Quickly he grabbed both the blonde and Jasmine and lead them out. He dropped the blonde off, before practically pulling Jasmine by the arm.

"Kujhade, you're hurting me," Jasmine complained in a small voice. His anger was rolling off of him in waves, and he didn't reply or let her go.

When they got back to his quarters, he continued to drag her to the medical room to inspect her. He sat her down and just looked at her for a second, his mouth working as if he was struggling to find words.

"Take it off. All of it," Kujhade in an even tone. Jasmine quietly did what he asked, and then sat back down on the metal table.

With a tenderness that belied his obvious anger, he inspected her body. She had a bloodied mouth, and scratches all around her abdomen and the tops of her hips.

"What did he do to you? Did he try to mate with you?" Kujhade asked, still trembling with emotion.

"He wanted to have sex with me, but I didn't do it I promise. He grabbed me and pushed me against the wall, then he tried to make me take my pants off. When I refused he tried to rip them off, and that's when you came in," she answered, not sure why it was important to her for him to know that she hadn't had sex.

With a huff, he got out some medical supplies and dabbed that same liquid all over her cuts. After a few minutes he was done, then he grabbed her again although not quite as roughly. He was leading her to the closet room until she started really protesting.

"No! Don't put me in there! I'm not a kid, you can't treat me like this," she screamed becoming somewhat hysterical about it, and struggling mightily in his grip.

"I told you not to leave that room, did I not? You left anyway, and if I had not shown up, he would have hurt you. He would have had you!" Kujhade yelled in her face, as he grabbed her by her shoulders and lifted her to look him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry," Jasmine said, unable to hold it together. She started crying, her body going limp. The encounter had actually scared her.

Something inside of Kujhade gave way. He could only think about punishing her, teaching her a lesson, locking her away so that no other male could ever hope to get even a scent of her. Now she was crying, and he couldn't help the purr that it pulled from him almost against his will. Slowly, he brought her close to him so that she felt the vibration in his chest. He never held any living thing this close to him that he did not intend to kill.

Jasmine wrapped her arms around him as much as she could. She knew he was mad at her, but she also saw his fierce protection of her as well. The other one had frightened her because she didn't know what he fully intended to do. Even though Kujhade had a temper, he wasn't making a point of constantly trying to hurt or frighten her. Jasmine buried her face in his alien chest, taking in his alien scent, and let his purr flow through her.