10
The morning came and I was merely sitting by the river with other yautja females. Because I was close to birth Two Emeralds did not want me to be alone at all. There were a mixture of humans and yautja some with both high status and low status, but they were all welcomed none the same. The women told me numerous stories about their mates and their cultures, and I told them a few stories about Ra and I. Soon after I was singing some melodies and they wanted to hear me sing. I was nervous at first, but then when I began to sing Celine Dion the women began to sway with my voice. I was singing To Love you More. I added my own tones and beats to the song and they clapped once I was done.
"You are an excellent singer, Nalla." Two Emeralds complimented. I blushed.
"I am sure you are all way better singers than I." I replied splashing some water at Venus, a warrior who taught the clan's female children about fighting. Most women just taught their children how to survive, but she taught the girls to be better. She taught them how to use their bodies to their advantage. She giggled some and splashed me back.
"I have never seen such vocals from a human before." Venus replied.
"Oh teach me how to sing, Nalla." One female said.
"Oh no teach me." Another raised her hand. I grinned and laughed.
"It is all quite easy. You would be surprised how a woman's voice can entrance a male." I said. Two Emeralds cackled.
"Is that how you have tamed Ra?" she asked. The other girls hid their laughter behind their hands. I looked up at her and shook her head.
"Ra has a mind of his own. He has tamed me if anything." I teased causing the other girls to laugh now.
"So she can sing and be humorous…I guess that's something she is good for." A bitter voice spoke. Our laughter died down, and we all looked over to see Tara walking naked to the river dipping her feet into the waves flipping her hair over her shoulders. I tensed some at her presence. I knew who she was. She was Ra's old friend from when they were children. He told me about her weeks after we settled here. She was bitter and upset when he left and didn't seem any happier when we both returned. What was worse is that she was the twin sister of Sabor. He had been gone on a hunt in the next galaxy to hunt a large alien breed. I thought it was good that he was gone, because even though it was clear that I was taken, he had never stopped trying to make flirtatious conversation with me when in public or during celebrations. The twins were both somewhat stuck up, but I did not treat them any differently from how I would treat any other, because Ra being an elite made us both upper class.
"Tara, come and sit with us." I offered and she shot me a glare before looking away.
"I'd rather not be where I am not welcomed." she said running water over her body some. None of the females spoke as they wanted to see how this conversation took. It was not a secret about the invisible drama between Ra and Sabor as well as me and Tara.
"You are always welcome." I told her and she hissed at me.
"I do not need your acceptance. I don't need the acceptance of any human." she snarled. Venus scoffed and splashed water in Tara's direction.
"Oh calm your mandibles child. We are all friends in this tribe just because Nalla is human or has your first love does not mean she should be treated with disrespect." she snapped and now Tara growled in her direction causing some of the female to look away and in other directions.
"I respect those who are worthy of respect. A lowly human is nothing to me." she hissed. My nose cringed some, and I turned to Tara.
"You are forgetting that I am not just a human anymore. You would do well to watch your words when around me. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness." I said firmly my anger flashing in my blue eyes. Tara roared at me.
"How dare you talk to me like that you lowly huma-"
"Enough." Two Emerald said firmly now looking from the water and up to Tara. Venus and the other women were silent looking at their elder wife. "You stand there like a suckling baring her mandibles and throwing a tantrum about as if it were your birth right."
Now it was silent, and even I looked away not wanting Two Emeralds heated gaze to fall on me. Two Emeralds eyes calmed now and her mandibles clicked together and she purred some.
"And what is worse you throw your aggression at a child bearer knowing she cannot defend herself. You had no aggression towards humans until she arrived on our home. She is here and she is Ra's mate and you would do well to remember that...unless you would like to take your aggression out on me." she said slowly standing from the water and opening her claws out some. My eyes widened for I had never seen the yautja woman stand with such power and authority. "Or perhaps you would like to take Venus on instead."
Venus stood strong with a powerful glare as she curled her fingers into a tight fist, her knuckles popping and her mandibles stretching some. Tara hissed some looking around at any of the women to see if they would come to her aid. They just gave her a firm stare as if wanting her to go. I just looked at her with a calm expression and she hissed some and flipped her hair over her shoulders.
"Like I said I will not stay where I am not needed." she said and turned and left from the river. When she was out of sight, Venus huffed.
"That child has a lot to learn about mates and love. For your first love is not always your true love." she replied looking at me from she had heard me talking about that a while back in the village. I shook my head and looked at Two Emeralds.
"I do not want conflict or enemies in the tribe." I told her, and Two Emeralds shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Enemies are everywhere…in time Tara will find a male who will take her attention from you and Ra. She has been waiting for quite some time for Ra to return. This is a pain she herself will need to heal."
"Ra has told her before he departed that there could never be anything between them." Venus interjected. "She had numerous long years to find another mate. She chose this pain and she will bare it alone."
We returned to the village our bodies and gowns soaked from the river. Some women left to their families while others moved to their mates. Ra was coming from a meat seller when he saw me. He had his armor on, but not his mask. He smiled and moved over to me, and lifted me up some under my arms and kissed me. I smiled and kissed him back.
"Alright alright do not handle her so roughly." Two Emeralds walking up behind us, and Ra set me down.
"Hello Elder Wife. I see you both enjoyed a nice graze down by the river." he said. The two of us smiled and nodded.
"Yes we did. She is wonderful company to have. But now is a time of more important things. Her days have ended and I predict she will go into labor tomorrow morning. You will contact us when her water breaks." she told, and Ra and I nodded, nervousness painted our face.
"Yes." Ra replied.
"Napalla!" I heard Lex call out, and I turned and smiled when I saw her.
"Lex!" I waved and looked at Ra before he nodded. I smiled and moved over to my sister and hugged her.
Normal POV
Ra and Two Emeralds watched as the young human embraced the other human.
"Those two are inseparable." she noted, and Ra nodded.
"It brings me joy to see her this happy." he announced, and the yautja female nodded.
"It should…she will follow you to the edge of the world and back." she replied. "She was meant to be your first love. At first I was not sure why your grandfather would do such a crazed thing as to pair you with her, but now I do. She has a strength in her that I have not seen in a long time in her race."
Ra nodded and looked over at the Elder Wife.
"What will Mecha do about the Paradise Birds?" he asked. He did not have to address the elder by his title, because he himself was old enough to be an elder now as well as he had the experience to back him up. Two Emeralds was watching Napalla and Lex talk. Apparently good news was told because the two were hugging hard and happily.
"The Stone Clan has also seen this in their territory and Mecha has had thoughts of calling a meeting with them to discuss whether this is a creature…or one of us doing the killings. For punishment must be done to the person who has hunted on our land without our permission." she explained. Ra's eyes flexed some. The Stone Clan were a vicious clan who prided themselves too much in their killed. The only thing that may have been more important to them was having mates to keep their line going. The minute their suckling could pick up a knife they were forced to kill a small creature to prove their worth to the clan.
"They are probably the ones who are doing the killings. They care little about possession or permission. They had just finished a war with the Bear Clan for raping one of their girls." he told. The Bear Clan never forget anyone who has wronged their tribe and they attack from the trees and were quite swift with their attacks. Two Emeralds nodded and looked up at Ra.
"And we will not forget such cruelty. You are lucky to come back after the war has settled." she explained, and Ra agreed.
"There will be a celebration for the return of Sabor and his party. I trust you will be there." she teased and Ra scoffed in reply.
Napalla's POV
I pulled back from our hug.
"Pregnant. Congratulations." I replied with shock. She nodded.
"Yeah. The doctor's confirmed it." she replied, and I shook my head in thought.
"Wow. This is wonderful. My baby is due tomorrow morning." I replied and she raised her hand.
"Say no more. I will be there. Ra must be excited." she told. I agreed.
"He is. And I know Scar is very happy." I replied. Scar has been to himself for most of his time here. When he was not needed by Lex he would be hunting and setting traps. Since he still felt like a blooded warrior, he wanted to sharpen his skills.
"Scar is thrilled." she replied. I smiled touching her cheeks and then her stomach.
"I am so happy for you." I replied.
"Napalla." I heard Ra call out to me, and I looked at him to see him motioning his head for us to go. I nodded and looked at Lex who smiled and hugged me.
"Go." she replied. I nodded and kissed her cheek before waddling over to Ra who placed his hand around my back and we returned home.