"Ooooo." Kantra slapped her hand over her head, and stretched out like a cat. She wiped her face with her hand, and opened her eyes. When Cetanu's private quarters came into view, she did a retake of the last day, then days, then week.

"You are awake." Cetanu's voice brought her attention to the door. "I have laid out some clothes for you, and some weapons I believe you will enjoy training with. As we shall be training today." He was dressed in his body mesh (although with his black skin it was hardly noticeable), wore metallic black Awu'asa with the Cor'ja emblem on the chest piece, his mask in his hand, and many weapons to one side. "The shower is hot, I shall wait for you." Kantra smiled, still slightly gingerly. She still thought back to how awful she was to him. She hadn't wanted to be, but she was angry and she thought if she pushed him and was cold to him, he might take her home.

Well, he is going to take her home now, all she had to do was wait a year.

"Ok, thank you." She bowed her head, showing her respect to him at last, and walked straight into the bathroom. She had a quick shower, and emerged in a towel Cetanu had left in there for her. Her long blood red locks were wet clad to her back, and she shivered. "Where did you say those clothes were?"

"They are on the bed Kantra." He pulled a Smart disc off the vanity table, and hooked it to his hip on his belt.

"Right." She looked over her shoulder at Cetanu, he may be looking down at his belt, but he would still be able to see her. "Since we are starting again…"

"I have no intention of looking up."

"Oh…" she blushed. Obviously it was only her who had thought that, and dropped her towel straight off her shoulders. Her body was already dry, only trickles of water from her hair ran down her back.

Kantra raised a brow at what she saw on the bed for her. But she put it on regardless.

"Are you dressed?"

"I think so." She looked around herself, and walked over to the mirror. She was wearing a short, mid thigh high square skirt, made from a thick brown skin, but didn't show off her hips. They had triangles cut into the side of each outer leg, not large enough to give the effect of a hanging cloth, but still gave less restricted movement. She had a belt, for storing weapons, and a very odd upper top. It looked like a brown cow skin corset, with short shoulder sleeves and came down to her skirt. No stomach on view. "Am I dressed like…"

"A young blood." He finished for her, and pulled a long Naginata with one blade on one end, and two twin blades on the top. Once again, both his Cor'ja ceremonial daggers were sheathed to the outside of each thigh, and he wore his dark demonic mask. "You are unblooded, not yet a huntress with the right to the hunt. And so, you shall dress like one. Besides…I assumed you would like something to wear to aid you in drawing less attention from my hunters."

"You would be right." She blushed. Cetanu leaned his long weapon against the wall, and lowered from his 9 feet, to his knees. "What are you doing?"

"I also assumed you might appreciate these." He lifted one ankle up, and he slipped a material flat mule shaped pump gently to envelope her foot. "Your feet will get quite cold on the ship floors. Colder and colder quicker than the rest of the Clan's. Like the rest of you."

"What makes you think I get colder quicker than the rest of you?"

"You shiver in your sleep." He slipped her other pump on, and stood his full height again.

"Oh…"

"I suggest you wear more at night, or find a way of staying warm." Kantra then noticed he was holding something behind his back.

"What have you got there?"

"Something." She raised a brow, and then smirked. He was getting playful again.

"Something, huh?"

"Yes." He looked away, as if to protest innocence.

"Nothing important then?"

"Nothing important."

"A ha." She looked like she was thinking on it, and walked forward. "So nothing important enough to hide then…" she tried to look behind him, but he had turned to face her. "Right?"

"Right."

"So you would have no problem with me…" she jumped to the side and swung her head around his side. "Seeing it?" but he had moved what ever he was holding, to his side. The side she couldn't see.

"Indeed."

"Then show me." She whined.

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"Yes, perhaps." He gently turned her with his free hand, and stood behind her. "If you close your eyes." She did so. "And tell me what a good Leader I am."

"You are the greatest leader of the best clan in the entire galaxy."

"Universe." He corrected her. She rolled her eyes.

"Universe."

"Tell me how skilled I am."

"You are so skilled it is untrue." She rolled her eyes, again. "In fact, you are so skilled, you don't get any kick out of making me tell you that and don't get off on me stroking your ego." He clattered, and placed his free hand on her shoulder.

"Tell me…" he thought for a moment. "Tell me that you are going to do everything I say whilst I train you, or when it is important, forever, and then swear it on your honour."

"If I do, will you let me see what you are hiding?"

"I will do one better Kantra. I will give it you."

"Deal. I will do whatever you say while you train me, and on your ship…"

"On my ship huh?" He trilled. "Don't think I will let you get away with that Kantra. Off ship too."

"Drat." She chuckled. "Off ship too."

"Good. Now, here is your prize." She felt something long placed into her open hands, and opened her eyes. She gasped, and beamed round at him.

It was her long, double ended mace staff. He had brought her weapons here.

"Thank you." She smiled shyly, as she saw the look in his eyes. He loved her reaction, it warmed his cruel heart.

"Come, we must leave. I have to brief the clan before we train." He turned and walked out the room. Kantra hurried along behind him, as difficult as that was. One of his strides, were about three of hers. Very soon, they were outside a black door just next to the bridge. It swished open, and he stepped inside. "No, you must stay here. This is a briefing for blooded hunters only."

"Oowww." She frowned. She then leaned her back against the wall to the side of the door, hung her head forward and held her mace staff in her folded arms.

"Do not worry." He said very quietly leaning down near her face. "One day I will let you chair these briefings, right by my side." Kantra smiled softly, and looked to his eyes. But he had already walked inside the room, and the door had closed.

Bored…bored…bored…bored…I wonder how many more times I can say bored before they come out? Kantra huffed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the smooth metal wall behind her. How long have they been in there now? 2 hours? At least. Kantra then pulled her head back off the wall, and raised a brow. Oh come on. He couldn't seriously expect me to wait here for hours on end for him, right?

'No, you must stay here-'

now he couldn't have meant that literally, surely. It just meant I mustn't go inside. Not literally stay here, on the spot. She nodded, her mind made up and pushing that nagging voice telling her to do as she was told aside.

Time to go and have a little look around my new home (for a year) before I go insane.

oh, this is just great. Every hall looks the same, every door the same, and now I don't know where I am. Damn it. Kantra growled and leaned against a wall. Her arms flopped to her sides, and her feet hurt for wandering aimlessly for hours. I said a 'little' walk. Not a freakin' marathon! Where the hell is the mess hall? I'm starving! And why haven't I seen anyone around here yet? Where is everyone!

"Heh heh."

"Give that back Bakkub!"

"Make me, you S'yuit-de!" a soft hissing crackled after that, and Kantra found her feet moving towards the high voices.

"I am not a coward!"

"Are too, you're afraid of me, aren't you?"

"Am not!" Kantra found her fingers curling around the frame of an open doorway, and peering inside with her emerald eyes. She saw two young unblooded pups. Well, one looked like a pup, the other slightly older. They both had light brown dreadlocks, but the older was male with his tied back in a simple tie, and the female, the youngest, had hers tied back in two low pig tails. It was quite odd actually. To see a boy teasing a girl. Usually he females were a lot bigger than the males, even at the earlier ages…

"Are to. Raaar!" the boy she learned to be called Bakkub, with brown leathery shorts on and sandals, faked forward suddenly, and the little girl jerked back and yelped. "See! Come on Paya, grow a backbone!"

"I have a backbone!" she squeaked, from her sat position on the floor. "G give me back my Doll!"

"Take it, you S'yuit-de!"

"Stop calling that child a coward, boy." Kantra had spoken the words before she could stop herself. The strangely small girl gasped and shakily got to her feet with her brother. Kantra growled when they both bowed other, the scent of fear slowly ebbing to her nostrils. "Look at me, both of you." She barked. Inside, she was actually frowning at herself. But it seemed that asking people to do anything for her around here without the say so of Cetanu, didn't work. "I mean it."

"Yes Mistress!" they chorused, and stood tall. Again, Kantra found herself confused why the young girl was so small.

"What are you names?" standing with them staring at her in silence didn't do anything for her sanity, so she decided to break the quiet.

"I am Bakkub, Mistress. And this is my sister."

"I thought you were related. It would explain why you are allowed to mix together before blooding. Your younger sister?"

"Twin, Mistress." She blinked at him out of disbelief. He was about what, 12? And yet he was a good head taller than his sister. Impossible.

"The same age?"

"Yes mistress." Kantra didn't like that Bakkub was answering all the questions, and the little girl was looking to her feet with a looking oppressed, like she was used to being ignored.

"And what is your name little one?" Kantra folded her knees beneath her and smiled warmly on level with the girl. But she didn't look at her.

"Her name is-"

"I asked her." Kantra didn't look away from the girl, and reached out slowly. She cupped her face, and felt her flinch. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. Now." she chuckled. "Can I see what colour your lovely eyes are? I would like you to look at me and tell me your name, please." Slowly, the girl let Kantra lift her face up to look at her, and she smiled. She had the most beautiful set of honey eyes, bright and tender. And yet she saw a great sadness in the shadows of her dark pupils.

"Mmm, mmmy name is Paya, Mistress." She squeaked again.

"Oh how lovely." At the sound of her name, her heart skipped a beat and tears prickled at her eyes. But she never stopped smiling. "My mother's name is Paya."

"I thought I was the only Paya onboard, Mistress?"

"You are. My mother isn't here…" she sniffled, and squeezed her eyes, then opened them to suppress her tears. "But she is always with me. In here." Kantra put one hand over her heart, and left the other on the girl's face.

"Did you eat her!" Paya asked nervously, and Kantra blinked twice before laughing into her hands.

"No, no I didn't. I mean she is in my heart." Kantra pushed a rebel lock of her braided hair from her face with a smile. "Now, why were you two arguing before?" she saw Bakkub shuffle uncomfortably with his hands behind his back. "Bakkub?"

"Why do you think I know!"

"Because I remember hearing you say something about a doll, and I don't see one." Kantra stood at her tallest height, folded her arms and raised a brow. "And I think you are holding it behind your back. am I right?" he gulped. "And am I right in assuming the doll doesn't belong to you? But your sister?"

"Erm…yes Mistress." He hung his head forward in shame and held the doll before him. It looked like a rag doll, with five fake dreadlocks and a missing eye, brown cloth skin and fabric armour panted on more cotton. The mandibles were a stitched on pattern, and the sausage shaped arms had hands dyed onto them too.

"And may I see that?"

"Yes Mistress." He handed it to her, his head hung over still and awaiting his punishment for his behaviour.

"Here you go Paya."

"Thank you Mistress!...but…"

"But what Paya?"

"Why did you give it me back? Shouldn't you have made me take it back instead?" Kantra smiled again.

"And why should I do that?"

"Because she is weak and shouldn't have to rely on others to rescue her. That's why." Bakkub said grumpily. That heart warming smile that Kantra had seen on the little girl's face faded into a frown, and for some reason that just made her blood boil.

"Now listen here boy." He tensed. Since when am I all condescending and stern?

Since you met Cetanu? Mister Stern and Condescending himself? When he isn't alone with you…

Her conscious reminded her, and she made a plan.

"And I think you don't know what being strong is all about. It isn't just about physical strength. That has nothing to do with being strong." She then softened her smile on Paya. "It also involves courage, strength of heart and mind, honour and knowing what's right. And where in that, did I say anything about strength?" now Kantra knew what the real problem was.

Naturally, the females in Yautja society are much, much taller. A set of twins, one boy and one female, can differ with the female being from one foot, to even 3 or 4 feet taller than her sibling. The females are also built bigger.

And yet this little one, of around 12 years, looked barely 8 or 9. she was a lot more slender, more petite than natural. And yet she looked healthy enough.

"You didn't…"

"And you also need skill to be a mighty, conquering warrior. Isn't that what your names means? Conquering warrior?" The girl nodded, and slowly life began to return to her bright eyes, becoming even brighter. "My mother, is an ETA. She has a genetic condition which means she can't exercise or excel herself physically or her blood will clot in her veins, and she will die. But she never gave in to her handicap." Kantra was talking solely to Paya now. And she was listening intently. "Others around her taunted her, said she would never do anything with herself to be proud of. But you know what? She didn't listen, and now she has accomplished something great. Not only is she the head of a successful business, but she controls tournaments in her establishment for hunters from all around. And once a year, there is a major tournament where hunters and clans from across the universe make their way back to the motherland, just to compete for victory in her tournament. But she has done so much more.

She owns the Hunter's rest and Bath house. A place, which is home to so many of our kind who have been overlooked and underappreciated. And greatly underestimated. There, they have found themselves a skill that they can do better than anyone else, and surpass everyone else. She took so many people in, and gave her life to caring for them and others. For me. You know, she rescued me from the clutches of the Kainde Amedha? When I was only a small pup, still a babe in arms. And she gave her life to raise me to be all that she couldn't, and loved me with all she was. And I will never be able to express how grateful I am for that. How much I love her for what she did for me. She is strong, so very strong. And yet she doesn't have any skulls or trophies, and has only ever been on one hunt."

"Only one?"

"Yes. And you know, she said to me once that she achieved the greatest honour of all that day, and the greatest trophy of them all." Kantra held Paya's hands, who was inspired by this story entirely. "Me." She was fighting back tears again. "I was the greatest honour, and the greatest trophy she had ever gained. So she told me anyway." She chuckled a sob, and little Paya wiped it away on her tip toes, Kantra still sat before her. "Thank you. And you think you are nothing special?"

"I didn't say-"

"You didn't have to. I can see it in your eyes. I noticed something about you when I first saw you. And I can see you have a very low opinion of yourself. Am I right?" Her beautiful Amber eyes saddened and looked down again.

"I'm too little. And I'm weak. I have hardly any strength and I'm afraid of everyone. I am not a true Yautja." She whimpered, and that was just too much for her to take. Kantra could stand looking at this bright eyed, beautiful little girl, and hear her say that.

"Why aren't you playing with the other pups?"

"I can't momma. They are all bigger than me. I can't keep up with them all…I don't fit in."

"And why not my darling?"

"…I am not a true Yautja…"

"Yes you bloody well are!" Kantra shook her shoulders lightly to get her attention. "It doesn't matter that you are smaller, or weaker, or different. You are a true Yautja too. You have your own talents and are just as special. No one is the same, and everyone shines in a different way to the next. You just need to find your light, and take it. Don't let anyone ever, ever hold you down or hold you back from your dreams. If you want to be strong, you can be strong. If you want to compete with the likes of your peers, do it. And be better than anyone could ever hope for you. Use your lack of height to your advantage. Small is quick, and agile. It doesn't matter if your opponent is bigger or stronger than you, they can't touch you, or see you movements. And with skill as well, you have the potential to be just as great as any other Yautja here." Her breath caught in her throat.

That was exactly what her mother told her, word for word. "That advice was given to me when I was a young pup. And I have lived by it ever since. I am not 8 feet tall, I don't have biceps larger than a pup's head. But I have skill, speed, and spirit. If you were to push me down, I would get back up. And I would never give up. Just look at me." She chuckled. "I'm an Ooman. How smaller and weaker can you get? And yet, I am a skilled Huntress, kind of, and the second of command of the entire Cor'ja clan. And…and the mate of Cetanu, the living God of death himself." Kantra gently pulled Paya close and stroked the back of her head as she hugged her front. "And I started out a lot like you. All the great hunters start out as pups, with no skills or weapons. But they all rose to greatness. And so can you."

"Th, thank you!" Paya held onto her neck tightly, and refused to let go of her. "Thank you so much! No one has said I could be anything, since, since." But she broke down into tears and Kantra rose, holding her with a few bounces as she stood.

"Shhhh, it's ok. It's ok." Paya pressed her face into the crook of her neck, and Kantra rested her chin on the young pup's head. She then felt a tug on her square leather skirt, and looked down to see Bakkub looking to her with wide eyes.

"…can we all really be that great one day?"

"If you want it enough, you can do anything." and then he too flung himself at her, hugging his leg. And strangely enough, Paya whimpered even more into her neck. "What did I say? Please don't cry." She cooed, one arm bared under Paya's bum to hold her up, and the other hand petting Bakkub's head.

"Momma used to say that to us every night, (sob) before bed." Bakkub rubbed his mandibles against her leg, trying to dry his tears.

Used to say?

…oh no… she bit her lips, and held them closer to them. they lost their mother. No wonder Paya thought so poorly of herself, and Bakkub forced himself to tease her, to make her stronger. No mother…how awful.

"You know what, she still says that to you every night." Kantra lowered to one knee, Bakkub still holding her bent one relentlessly, but looking up at her. Paya still buried herself into Kantra's neck. "She whispers her love and care to you while you sleep, showing you with her love. And you can honour her by becoming strong, honourable warriors that she can be proud of, and by remembering her with pride, remembering her love. Be happy for her, and she will watch over you."

"Thank you." Bakkub wiped his tears, and puffed his chest out. "I will be a strong Hunter!" she smiled warmly.

"I know you will. And you will look out for your sister, and stop teasing her too." She tapped the space above his mandibles between his eyes playfully, and he blushed shyly. "And you will stop being afraid. Because your mother is watching over you."

"Will you watch over us too Mistress?" but I', not going to be here forever. Only a year. She sniffled, but nodded with an honoured smile.

"Yes. We can all look out for each other. Promise me?" she looked to them all. and they nodded.

"I swear it on my honour!"

"I swear to watch out for my brothers and sisters forever, like my father."

"You father?" that was good news. She couldn't bare it if they were fatherless too. "Where is he? Why are you all alone in here?"

"He is in a meeting with his Lordship, Mistress." His dark ebony eyes were tearless now, and she liked them that way. Ah yes, that damn meeting I couldn't go to…

"That was quite a while ago. Shouldn't he be back by now?"

"Yeah he should…but I am sure he is doing something really important. And he told us to wait here until he-"

"Mistress! Didn't you go to the meeting too?" Paya piped up from her neck, shining with those two gorgeous amber eyes.

"I am unblooded." Both children looked at her, scandalised. "What?"

"But you are the second of the clan! And you are unblooded! Haven't you been on the Chiva, ever!"

"No, not yet." She pouted. "But Cetanu will be training me." Both children had shuddered at the name of their leader. She rolled her eyes.

"What an honour." Bakkub beamed. "To be trained personally by his lordship! I would kill for that honour."

"Well, whatever he teaches me, I'll teach you too. And besides, I'm not completely useless now, I'll have you know." She mock pouted at him, and then stood up again. "I have trained myself for many years, with the basics taught to me from my mother."

"But his lordship would never let you teach us his ways!"

"Oh, I'm sure I could persuade him." Kantra saw Bakkub raise a brow at her, and she blushed. "You are what, 12 years old? So stop looking at me like that! I didn't mean that at all!"

"Yeah…right. And I'm 14." He grumbled. It seems he was brushed with the small brush too. Barely. And not as badly as Paya. She felt the need to cheer them up somehow. They were both looking towards the door, obviously worrying where their father could be.

"I have an idea how to pass the time." Instantly she had their attention. "Let's play a game…"

AN:

Sexy new name, sexy new chapter.

Without the sexiness of the chapter….

But anyway!

Draguna Doragon here, with another chapter, and the promise to update very, very soon. Like the next day kind of thing, I swear!

So review, or you will have to wait longer…

grins evilly

and what is this?

Why is Cetanu furious in the next chapter?

And what is he hiding now? and this time, he will not let Kantra know what it is at all costs….

But what is it?

REVIEW, WAIT, AND SEE!

From

Draguna Doragon