SORRY I TOOK SO LONG!!!!!!!! Really I didn't mean for it to take this long. So I decided to do a double post! Please enjoy. I wanna thank all the people who have stuck with me this long.

Basic Info (which will continue to grow as the Yautja world is further explored)

Human language: Normal font

Yautja language: Italic font

Nok: measurment unit about a foot and a half. Least that's what I say it is. I've been wrong before.

Chiva: kind of like a coming of age experience where the Unblooded Yautja must kill a hard meat and get a cool burny thing on their forehead

Unblooded: young who hasn't gone through the chiva yet

First Hunt: the first hunt an Unblooded ever gets to do. Their prey is chosen by the female leader of their clan and they are observed the entire time. Basically, a big ass test for mommy to make sure they aren't an entire failure! Oh, and its males only.

Watcher: two Blooded males that observe the First Hunt. They are to make sure that nothing else kills the prey and to see if the Unblooded pups fight honorably. Basically, baby sitters.

Sun Blood Clan: Roya'Trik-tal is the leader of this clan. One of the original five clans on the planet and pretty high in the political power structure. Known for their particular mirror armor that reflects the two suns to an almost blinding point.

Shadow Knife Clan: Trak's clan. Though headed my his mother, his father is actually the one in charge (rare for the Yautja). ALso one of the original five clans and currently the top on the political power scale. Known for their usage of shadow when hunting, prefer sneaking up on prey rather than jumping out and doing face to face fighting.

Paya: A Yautja god. I can't remember if he is for sex or death or something else. So we'll just say he is the God of Sexy Death. Joking. I only know he's a god. (shrugs)

Uzmega: big ugly ass creature the size of a small whale. Large mouth, sandy in color as camoflouge and very tempermental. They are a feared creature on the Yautja planet because they have no regard for anything. They burrow under the desert to stay away from the sun's light. They're easily burned.

Chapter 7

Not So Much Love

Airn stood up slowly, watching the male creature in front of her. Even when she stood up he still had a good two feet on her. Was everything on this planet so freaking huge?

"Aren't you angry that I killed your friend?" She looked at the dead body, spear still sticking out of his chest.

The creature did one shake of its head, shaking the dreadlocks on its head. It had a few metal decorations that rattled whenever it moved. His mandibles moved slightly as he observed her.

She moved towards the body of his fallen comrade, not at all surprised he didn't care for the dead creature. This race seemed to have little compassion, much like her own. You didn't know the deceased it wasn't a big deal. It was a sad thought, but the best way for survival.

She touched the rough skin of the creature that wasn't covered in its own blood. It felt rough under her fingers, similar to how velvet felt when you go against the fabric. Not unpleasant, just different. The large body was curled on his side so he looked like he was sleeping.

"Can you get this spear out of him?" she kept her voice low, not wanting to insult the creature. He might have said he didn't want to kill her but she didn't totally trust him.

The red creature knelt down, large hand going to the weapon sticking out of the body. The weapon looked more suited for his hand as he pressed a button to retract the metal. She cringed at the sickening sound of metal against bone. A little bit more florescent green liquid flowed out of the large wound.

The creature stuck out his hand, weapon closed to her. She took it from him, grimacing at the feel of fluid between her fingers. Plus the thought that she was covered in the in the dead creature's innards really didn't do much for her either.

She heard a slight growl, and saw the red creature looking at her intently. His eyes were startlingly beautiful, the same color as the sunrise. They weren't warm but comforting, maybe? Even though she didn't trust him, she found herself comfortable around him. Ok, she was totally losing it.

"So what happens now? You say you're not going to kill me but where does that leave me? Sitting out here to wait for the other thing to come kill me?" She looked him directly in those warm sunset eyes.

He blinked at her, sitting on his haunches; even then he was still so much larger than her. His legs were huge and powerful looking, easily big enough to hold his massive chest and thick arms.

"But that's what you're here for, aren't you?" she said as she played with the hem of her loincloth flap. "To watch over us so when the hunters come their prey will still be alive. That's what he was here for also, wasn't he?"

The creature nodded. She had figured as much. But the question was, why did the other hunter attack her? Shouldn't he have been trying to make sure the beast that had been attempting to eat her? No they had both sat on their asses and watched her try not to die. Wonderful job there guys!

She felt something warm near her face and turned slightly to see a talon tipped red hand near her cheek. Her heart was thundering in her ears, as it got closer. She didn't back away from the hand, merely watched it until the rough skin brushed against her own. She could feel the talons barely brushing against her neck as the creature slowly moved its hand over her skin.

She turned her eyes up to him, watching his face. It really didn't show anything other than those bright orange eyes observing her intently. She shuddered as the claws caught a sensitive spot below her ear. A low purr rippled from his throat, surprising her.

All right…so he was officially confusing her. First he just kind of looks at her like she's and idiot—which given the past few days and thought she had had might be true—and now here he is rubbing her cheeks and purring at her. Wasn't sure what the purring meant but still. Thank you for uncertainty you giant ass lizard!

Her skin was oddly smooth against his skin. He hadn't expected it to feel this soft as he had looked at her. Hell, he didn't even know why he was touching her like this. Something in his head just started wondering what it felt like. So he had acted without thinking.

She hadn't backed away in fright, like he had expected her to. Her eyes had followed his hand, careful of the claws he had. Still she had let him touch her on her face, not flinching. She had then looked up at him with surprise and confusion in her eyes. She didn't understand his actions either.

Then her body had shuddered when he hit a certain patch of skin, fluttering her eyes. Before he could stop himself a purr rippled out, surprising her and him! Where had that come from?

"What am I going to do with you ooman?" he mused, looking at her guarded face.

He really couldn't do anything with her. She belonged to the head bitch of the Sun Blood Clan. She had been caught, bought and used fairly. She was a slave, after all. Barely worthy anything to him. Slaves were to clean, cook and do menial task for the Yautja. They were to listen to every command, be servile and quiet, to die when told to.

But he wanted her. Her warrior spirit, her exotic looks, her curious eyes. He was drawn to her. She was everything that a male wanted in a female mate. She didn't even flinch when he touched her and he could only imagine what he looked like in her knowledgeable yet curious green eyes.

There wasn't any way that Roya'Trik-tal would sell her to him, even if he were willing to pay anything imaginable to the Yautja mind to have this female. No, after the insult that the female had dealt to the Yautja leader she was marked for death.

How amusing. Twice he had thought her death to be imminent. The Uzmega had thought his dinner would be quite a feast until it had been met with a Combi-stick to the skull. Then the other Yautja Watcher had found his death to her in a single weapon fight. But it would be the third time, at the hands of Kor-th'Uyl. How he pitied her fate. And pity was not something Yautja felt very often.

"You'd better go," the ooman told him as she grabbed her weapon, pulling away from his hand.

"What?" He watched as she went over to the dead Watcher, taking up his wrist blades. She could hardly think she stood a chance against Kor-th'Uyl, even if he was Unblooded. Even Trak realized that he was a very capable warrior.

The female weighed the weapon in her hand before she slipped it on her wrist. On a Yautja the weapon ended at the elbow, allowing him to bend as he fought his prey. The wrist blade's gauntlet stopped on her upper arm, effectively keeping her from bending it. It was weakness that only an impeccable would make.

As he watched she proceeded over to the discarded pile of weapons from the deceased Watcher. This foolish creature was actually going to fight her hunter. She seemed to find the armor too heavy—it was built for a creature three times her weight—but grabbed the belt holding shuriken, two chakram hanging on the side that were as big as her head, a small net gun and a couple of daggers and knives. Yep, the fool was going to attempt to defend herself.

"You aren't going to be able to survive against him," Trak growled. She barely gave him a glance as she tied the belt around her thin waist. It hung at an odd angle and had had to be wrapped nearly twice to even make it fit slightly.

He stood up from his crouch and headed over to where she was stick the shoulder harness over her lithe body, the Watcher's Combi-stick still attached. He could hardly believe he was seeing this. Hadn't she an idea of the true terror of the hunter pursuing her? She should be running and hiding, not strapping weapons she probably couldn't use on her.

She finally looked at him when she had the shoulder harness attached. She looked quite ridiculous, dangling with all those weapons.

"You're not going to win against him."

Something his tone must have alerted her to what he was saying—she couldn't understand him that he knew—because her eyes got narrow and her hands landed firmly on her hips.

"I don't see why you're sticking around here." Her tone was cold and biting. This was the warrior both Roya'Trik-tal and he had seen. She was willing to defend herself, not bend to their wills. She was strong.

"You're going to die," he said, pointing out the obvious.

She rolled her eyes. "I still can't understand you. But I'm pretty sure you're mocking me right now. Honestly, I don't care. Why don't you just take your scaly butt somewhere else so I can get ready for Tall, Dark and Creepy. And I'm very much aware I probably won't survive. But having you stand there and mock me is not exactly helping anything."

Trak had no response to that. He had never been a position where there wasn't a chance of living. He was too skilled to allow himself to get in that kind of position. Yet here this ooman was, willing to fight even a losing battle.

"You are an idiot."

She gave him a glare. "If you're not going to help me, get the hell out of here. I don't have time for this. Kill me, help me, or leave me. Just do it quickly."

That was when the idea hit him. He knew the exact way that he could keep her.

And it was probably the worst thing he could have thought of right now.

The ooman was already walking away, headed towards the Uzmega's cave. The weapons jingled on her body and even though they were probably too heavy for her, she showed no sign of discomfort.

Trak's steps were quiet as he walked up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She swung around, Combi-stick suddenly in his face. Very good reflexes.

He held up a hand to mean wait. Her eyes scrunched up in confusion but she waited. Going into his belt he pulled out his most prized dagger. And naturally as the weapon came into sight, her Combi-stick was right at his neck.

There were only so many times Trak could handle being threatened, insulted, and disrespected in one day. It seemed he had found his limit. This ooman was really trying his very limited source of patience.

Grabbing the Combi-stick he yanked it hard enough to have the weapon fly out of her hands. It also put her off balance. He grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around so her back was pressed to his chest. She barely came to the middle of his pectorals. With the dagger at her neck, he stripped her of the weapons quickly and efficiently.

Her body stayed still. She couldn't and wouldn't fight against him with the dagger at her neck. Her arms stayed at her sides, one pinned by his massive arm with the dagger, the other by his other hand reliving her of the weapons.

"You're going to be quiet and listen," Trak growled into her ear. One of his mandibles sharp tusks flicked over her soft cheek, making her flinch. She seemed to get the concept because no sound escaped her lips.

He transferred the dagger from his right hand to left. The unoccupied hand wrapped around the female's thin neck, cutting off escape. Then he raised the dagger to the pale cheek.

This particular dagger had been hand crafted by his father's weapons maker. About a nok in length, it had etchings along the edge, spelling out his lineage. The inside of the blade was hollow, containing the acidic blood of the hard meats, it was a deadly dagger. The thought had come to him after he had seen how the hard meats used their blood as weapons when wounded. He had a supply back at his home to refill the weapon.

The ooman's eyes watched the knife in horror. But he cared little. This was the best way. The only way for her to survive.

With practiced ease, he traced his family's symbol on the soft skin. The female let out a rush of breath, obviously feeling the burn of the highly acidic fluid. Her body pressed back against his, obviously wanting to flee from the pain. He wouldn't allow her. Switching his hands out, he branded the other cheek with the same mark. The acid turned the skin a dark pink but no blood spilt because the acid burned all open veins.

"This is for the best," he clicked as she glared at him.

She soooooooooo wanted to kick the giant over grown lizard in his nuts, but didn't for the fact he was wearing a metal loincloth. And she didn't have proper nut kicking shoes on. High heels did wonders on male genitals.

She wasn't even fucking sure the thing had nuts, anyways.

The dagger—with hidden acid action, apparently—burns hurt like fuck. She wanted to go shove her head in a bucket of cold, make that ice water. Plus the wind blowing sand on them really wasn't helping.

But the creature, Mr. Tomato—her own secret revenge against him—held her firmly. Shit, it hurt so much that she didn't really mind. Well the claws at the neck were a little unnecessary.

Just as she was about to ask him the reason to marking up her face, Tall, Dark and Creepy launched himself off the lip of the crater, landing some thirty feet from her. And a situation that had started off as crap was suddenly looking like warmed over shit thrown in her face.

His mask was on, spear out and pointed right at her. Why the hell was he gunning for her so much? Oh yeah. Back talking his mommy. She'd probably told him to knock the shit out of her before he killed her.

Suddenly staying in Mr. Tomato's arms didn't sound so horrible. After all, he was bigger, obviously on the nicer end of the species, and laden with weapons. Course she had been too but then all lay scattered on the ground.

The creature holding her shoved her behind him, growling and clicking to the intruder. He sounded very angry and very threatening. And since it was in her defense she didn't mind so much.

Tall, Dark and Creepy didn't look overly fond of what he had been told. She couldn't see his face but much like anyone he pointed his weapons at her. That target painted on her head was surely glowing brightly right now.

The male standing in front of her returned the growl he received. Tall, Dark and Creepy ripped off his mask, not even bothering with the tubes connected to it. Ooo, he was totally pissed off. He splayed his mandibles, letting out a roar that scared Airn to the core.

Red returned the roar, putting himself in the path of Tall, Dark and Creepy's sight. Which seemed to piss off the other creature. He started roaring and clicking away, angry at the fact Red was protecting her.

Brushing her finger over the mark on one of her cheeks, she realized it was one of their characters. He had carved a word or something into her. The other cheek revealed much the same character. All right, so he obviously didn't want to kill her—which bout made want her to dance. When three out of the four things in this crater wanted your head, anyone that didn't was awesome in her book—and had carved a symbol into her face.

Airn placed her hands on the back of the male. He glanced back at her, sunrise eyes locking onto her. It was then she noticed the mark, the same one she had traced on her cheeks, was burned into the skin of his forehead. She hadn't really noticed before because of his coloring but now that she was this close it was right there. The symbol of the chiva.

While she had no idea what a chiva was, Hal hadn't really known much except it was a big part of their society and anyone who made it through wore a mark on their forehead. So putting it on her cheeks must mean something big.

She put her hand back up the mark, watching his eyes flare as she rubbed her fingers over it. She then put her hand back onto his back, trying to convey that whatever the mark meant she accepted it.

"You can explain this to me after you kick his ass."

His mandibles flared at her words before he nodded severely. His eyes turned back to the angry motherfucker—and she really hoped it wasn't in a literal sense—glaring at them.

And then the creature spotted the mark on her cheek.

Wahwhoa! Tall Dark and Creepy pops up and the shits really about to go down because of those burns, which will be explained in the next chapter. Course we all know Trak will kick his ass but still! Watch out Airn!