Hunter 2
Chapter 8
"Request"
About a day later…
Garv didn't return after he stormed out…I slept alone with my thoughts. How I loved him! I didn't want to anger him, I lived to make him happy and it pained me to feel this separation. When I awoke, he was still missing. Pained emotion crushed against my insides…but it didn't change my mind. I wanted equality and the only way to achieve that was to partake in the First Hunt. Problem was, I had to ask the High Eldress for permission to do this…and no Predator approaches the High Eldress without either being summoned first or asking for an audience with her. Since Garv wasn't around to meet with her and request an audience for me, I had only one option: Fire Blood the Second in Command.
If Fire Blood refused to help me then I didn't know what I would do. I had to try though. I worried that he wouldn't for the simple fact that he still had strong feelings toward the High Eldress and she wasn't exactly reciprocating of his pursuits. Then again, he might enjoy meeting with Renata. It was hard to judge.
When I finally arrived at his dwelling, I heard sounds of fighting around back, so I opted to follow the noise. I rounded the corner, there was Fire Blood with a spear in hand, and a large bright green speckled female as tall as him crouched in a fighting stance with a spear as well. Seven other females sat around the combat area watching the spar. With a very fancy graceful spin of her spear the female came at Fire Blood and left a small gash at the base of his abs. He jumped back.
"Careful now Jet'rikna! If you want pleasures then be careful around the manhood," he growled.
She slinked around him on long shapely legs, "I know exactly what I'm doing."
Fire Blood rattled and braced his spear, "Let's just see how much you know."
With a fast dodge, Jet'rikna ducked under Fire Blood's first spear swipe and hit him hard in the chest with the rod of her weapon. He was only made to step back slightly.
He growled softly, "Not bad at all Jet'rikna. But…" With a blindening move, he knocked her spear out of her hands and pushed her against the wall of the dwelling. She hissed and flared her elegant mandibles.
Fire Blood held her fast but somehow Jet'rikna pressed a solid foot to the wall and slipped from the pressure of his spear. Jet'rikna maneuvered behind her huge mate and the moment he turned, she slammed his back to the wall with great force. Her eyes were flaming for a second, but then they took on a softer light. Provocatively he lifted one of her long legs and curled it around the back of his, pressing her sex against his thigh. She purred and nipped at Fire Blood's shoulder.
"Submit…"
Fire Blood purred huskily, "Very well."
I smiled briefly. If there was one weakness in Fire Blood's strong body, it was his lust. At once, the other females noticed me and stood. None made a move toward me, though I readied myself just in case. Fire Blood noticed their change and glanced over to me.
I bowed my head from where I stood saying, "I will go if I'm interrupting anything."
The Second in Command gave me a look and then Jet'rikna. "Shall we continue later?"
The female traced a claw over his chest and stroked his side with her leg, "Yes…but you will have to earn my favor again."
He grinned and nipped the side of her right mandible, "I look forward to that."
Slinking away from her mate, Jet'rikna retrieved her spear again and disappeared into the dwelling. Fire Blood's eyes followed her shapely form and then he approached me, "So Little Fighter what brings you here?"
"I didn't mean to interrupt your…spar." I apologized.
He clicked hollowly, "Well…you can owe me later. What do you want?"
"I need your help."
He squinted his eyes, "MY help? Why me?"
I sighed, "Garv…we…we crossed words yesterday and he left the dwelling. I haven't seen him since yesterday."
"What did you say to him?" Fire Blood asked.
"I…I told him I wanted to go on the First Hunt so I could…so I could be equal. He got mad…" I explained trying to tell the events without crying.
Fire Blood pulled his head back, "You…WANT to go on a First Hunt?"
I nodded.
"Did he say you'd die? Because he's right!" he stated bluntly.
"I don't care about the risks…and I told him so." I said with a hint of venom.
The big Predator rattled in a sigh, "You don't care if you'll die?"
I shook my head.
"Then what do you want from me?" he demanded.
"I need you to get me an audience with the High Eldress…so I can ask permission." I explained in a low tone.
He barked a quick laugh, "ME? Why can't you ask Garv? HE'S your mate!"
"He won't do it. I KNOW he won't." I insisted narrowing my eyes.
"And…what makes you think the High Eldress will listen to ME?" he asked harshly.
I shrugged, "Will you try?"
Fire Blood looked away a minute seeming to think about it, "Do you realize Garv might kill me if I go against HIM?"
"No…so…you won't?" I asked.
He looked at me again.
……………………..
That evening in the massive dwelling of the High Eldress…
I followed Fire Blood down the long corridor of the High Eldress's dwelling. Built much like a palace and decorated with shrines of past elders and countless trophies the entire structure was magnificent to behold. Reddish light filtered in through the elaborately designed walls. Images of kainde amedha locked in battle with mighty figures of Predator warriors shadowed the walls with their upraised surfaces. Moreover, this was just the main hallway that led to the Chamber of Meeting where the High Eldress listened to requests and other things from members of her council and the Clan.
Fire Blood snorted, "I don't know HOW you talked me into this. I still can't believe Renata agreed to see you!"
I couldn't believe it myself. "Is this where the High Eldress lives?"
"Yes. But no one knows exactly where she sleeps. Keeps assassins from killing her in her sleep." He rattled with admiration, "Renata was always thinking ahead…clever female."
"Assassins? You mean even the High Eldress is at risk?" I asked incredulously. From what I'd seen, the High Eldress received nothing but the utmost fear and respect.
"Of course! Every leader is at risk from Assassins…Bad Bloods who will kill while their enemies sleep. Unworthy…without honor. Little Fighter you mind your speech before Renata. She didn't kill you before but don't think she won't. Just mind your tongue and only be frank with permission or you might get your wish for death sooner." Fire Blood warned as we neared the High Eldress's chamber.
I blinked, "Who said I wish to die?"
"YOU did! If you want to go on the First Hunt then you WANT to die," he growled.
Lifting my chin as we walked I stated strongly, "My honor and the honor of my mate are worth more than my life."
He glanced down at me but went silent as we entered through the massive metal doors of the Chamber of Meeting. Built in the round, the entire room was rather dark with only a few sparse sources of light to illuminate the sophisticated impressions and trophies on the walls. Next to the door were two sentries with huge double bladed glaives in their hands. As their duty demanded, they crossed their weapons to bar our entrance.
Fire Blood eyed them and growled in a low tone, "Remove those…or I'll do it FOR you both."
"Guards…let them pass." Renata's voice rasped from across the room.
Doing as ordered the pair eased up and resumed their positions, letting both of us pass.
"Fire Blood…there is no need for you here. All of you…leave me with this Ooman," the High Eldress's voice commanded strongly.
Giving me a parting look Fire Blood left with the guards and any other Predators who were standing in the room. I swallowed nervously viewing the throne of the High Eldress, shadowed in the far side of the room. I could only see Renata's long whitish legs, crossed, and banded with beautiful teal stripes bathed in a portal of light. Her large elegant hands with long hooked claws were also visible at the ends of her bone armrests. Not being able to see her face or torso sent chills of wonder and fear up my frame.
"You are nervous…you have a question for me and you fear my answer." Her voice commented in a hiss.
Falling to my knees, I bowed so low my forehead touched the metal floor. "Yes High Eldress."
She was silent and I was still. "Speak your question."
I took a breath and said carefully, "Most High Eldress…I beseech your permission to partake in the First Hunt."
Again, silence. Her long clawed fingers flexed the air in the beam of light, "The First Hunt is for the Unblooded seeking to become warriors. You are Ooman…why would you ask this?"
"Forgive me High Eldress but I wish this because I wish to renounce my humanity and be seen as Predator." I said.
Her graceful legs uncrossed. "And you believe by surviving the First Hunt will achieve this?"
I nodded dumbly.
"You will die Ooman. There is no denying that. Many great warriors, Blooded and Unblooded alike have fallen against the kainde amedha. What makes you think you will survive?"
I lifted my eyes slightly, "Because, High Eldress, I believe that what I seek is worth more than my life and if dying on the First Hunt is my fate…I would rather die in that manner than remain as an Ooman for the rest of my life."
She clicked softly and before I knew it, she rose, bathing her entire body in the light. Wearing the same gorgeous black armor and wearing the same ornate mask, she filled me with great fear and awe.
Striding toward my prostrate form she hissed, "Stand."
Slowly I did so, keeping my eyes at the floor. Bluntly, she rasped, "I allowed you to live in this Clan because I had great respect for Hunter. He was the greatest warrior I ever knew…I was honored to call him my Sire."
That statement hit me so hard I almost lifted my head to look at her. The High Eldress…was one of Hunter's daughters?
She continued, "The day he brought you to our planet I questioned it. What would possess the greatest warrior in our Clan to take pity on a mere Ooman offspring and bring her to our planet? Why did he keep an Ooman female and train her with our weapons and in our methods of combat? I never knew then and I still don't…but Hunter saw something in you. Otherwise he wouldn't have saved you." The High Eldress paused and finally she rattled, "Perhaps I too can see what Hunter saw in you. Your request is granted."
Part of me screamed in triumph. I had the High Eldress's permission! Never in my wildest dreams did I believe she'd say yes! But then the other half of me mourned…I wished Garv could be here with me to witness this. Where was he? Why didn't he accept my request? I just…I just couldn't understand. My heart was torn.
