AN: Sorry for the delay, folks. Y'know how when you're writing you have parts that just form in your head, but they have their moment and you have to build to get to them? It's the building…the 'in between', that you don't really think of until it's there. It takes a while to get it right and do the rest of the story justice.

That, and I got a new computer game…hours upon hours of fantastical geek-dom that kept saying "don't you have a chapter to work on?"

But here we are. I think it's worthy of addition to the continuing adventures of K&K, so I am ready to share it with you.

Thanks to Ooman…love ya babe! You kick-started this. T'is yours.

- Captain 'I swear I will never buy a new game again!' Razz

####%####

Another Fine Mess

Chapter 11 – Here We Go Again

The Arbitrator swore as he finished applying bandages to his shattered jaw and mandibles. Never in his career had he experienced anything as remotely embarrassing, and he wondered how to explain such failure to his superior without it sounding like 'failure'. Shuffling to the control room, he collapsed into the seat and warily opened a channel, but the signal was answered before he could change his mind.

"Your status, Arbitra…what has happened to your face?" The Elder's gaze raced across his features, partially obscured by heavy bandages with only a single tusk and the Arbitrator's ashamed eyes visible. He glanced away before his fingers danced across the console.

'They managed to elude me,' he typed in reply. The Elder's tusks twitched.

"That does not explain what happened."

A muffled growl came through the link. 'I would rather not discuss it. The ooman is very creative.'

The Elder hid a grunt that could have been a chuckle. "It would appear so. At least you have determined that they are alive."

'I am ready to resume the hunt. They could not have traveled far.'

"No." His expression turned thoughtful. "Return to me so that the healers may do something about the damage you have sustained. We will then discuss further action."

The Arbitrator nodded curtly before the link went dead, and his superior released the laugh he'd been holding. "What a resourceful friend you have, Firstborn. Perhaps we will need to try a different approach."

#######

The two fugitives raced to their chambers to clean up after their brief encounter. Aftershocks surged in tandem through their veins as though they were still entwined, and it took a concentrated effort to focus on the approaching threat and not each other. For two creatures trained to despise foreign elements, their strange alliance had finally culminated in an undeniable bond that hardened to stone in the medical lab. Though they had not truly 'mated' in the literal sense, the sharing of such intimacy was the final link in their chain, and minds alien to each other arrived at the same conclusion: Mine.

Kh'aan slipped around the corner ahead of Kayla, darting into his room as he heard the door to the bathing chamber hiss open. For a moment he was assaulted by the image of her in the bath, but instead of frustration now the hunter felt only impatience. She was his; he would have her and no one would stop him. What occurred in the lab was proof of their mutual desire, but yet another interruption kept the former Firstborn from savoring what he so desperately craved. Next time I will not stop, I do not care if my sire catches us! I have waited a lifetime for a mate unknown to me. I can wait for the one that I have chosen. I do not want to wait! Such fire, begging me to quench her! Pauk!

Kh'aan spun on his heel with a fresh loin cloth in his hands and the old dangling from one hip, and marched swiftly from his chamber intent on satisfying this raging desire. Enemies be damned, the hunter found himself with singular focus, the scent and heat of his mate urging him back to her as he grew beneath the flapping square of leather. As he emerged from his room Kayla hopped out of the bathing chamber on one foot, her under garment tangled around her toes while the other hand struggled with the ties at her neck. Kh'aan's eyes widened at the sight of his claw marks on her thighs, and he dropped the fresh cloth as a deep growl rumbled from his chest. I will not wait!

####

Kayla swore as she hurried into the bathing chamber, the injustice of so many interruptions seeming like a deliberate slight by a higher power. Here I am – here we are – finally certain, and we can't get even a tiny siesta. Figures! She opened the cabinet of thermal skins and grabbed one, knocking the rest off of the shelf in her haste. "Fuck!"

The human swiftly cleaned her private regions; not that she was particularly dirty, but the residual was too obvious of a reminder. She swore again and dropped the cloth as her mind twirled back to the lab. The hunter's skin had burned against hers, and his pounding heart felt as though it would burst from his chest. The woman in her shivered at the simple thought of his touch, and for once the soldier was in accord. His tongue was rough like a cat...my god, what he could do with that thing. Not to mention such frighteningly luscious equipment…what the hell was up with those ridges?

"Dammit! On task, marine!"

Kayla struggled with her skins as she left the bathing chamber. Frustrated with her lack of focus she missed the unmistakable spice in the corridor, and yelped in surprise when strong hands lifted her off of her tangled feet. In a heartbeat one sharp talon removed the hindrance, and she found herself once again pinned against a door. Kh'aan's breath enveloped her throat as he leaned down to lick at her pulse, and she forgot her own name when his burning erection pressed against her uncovered center through the loin cloth. His claws made quick work of the ties at her neck, and his tusks grazed along her skin leaving raised welts that he soothed with his tongue. His body vibrated with the strength of a purr that felt more like an engine, and when his hands slipped down to grip her bottom he let out an eager snarl.

Lightning shot up Kayla's spine when he throbbed against her heated flesh, and her mouth watered as the mysterious ridges pulsed along his length. Enemy forgotten, the marine linked her ankles around his back and arched against the wall to grind her nethers into his. The hunter hissed into her collar, his neck bent at a sharp angle as he tried to push her covering down with his tusks. He braced his knee against the wall and flexed his hips, rubbing his length along her heat until she moaned and her fingers clenched his biceps. She stuttered out his name on a harsh breath, and when their eyes met they whined their need in unison. As she yanked the cloth from between them and he linked their fingers to pin the other hand to the wall, the sensor alarm suddenly flared through the ship louder than before.

The noise acted like a cold shower to the fugitives, and they flushed in shame at their distraction. Kh'aan slumped against her and nuzzled her cheek, savoring her scent as he forced his body to stop shaking with need. Kayla gently wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him while her fingers drew soothing circles at the base of his tresses.

"I'm sorry…"

"No, I am sorry. I should have more control than this."

"It's not your fault."

"Yes it is."

"No, it's not."

"It is."

"It's not."

"IS!"

"BRAT!"

Giddy laughter bubbled from the human's throat and was echoed by a soft warble from the yautja in her arms. Kh'aan snuffled against her skin before he trailed his tongue along her jaw and across her lips. He leaned back to meet her gaze, and was pleased at the frustrated desire that mirrored in her eyes.

"We will find time."

The marine smirked as she uncrossed her ankles. "Lots of time?"

"Yes," he purred. "As much as you desire."

The hunter stepped back and opened his hands allowing Kayla to slide down the wall. She nervously licked her lips and grasped at the loose skins as a shudder shook her frame, and it took a few attempts before she was able to speak. "My god, what have you done to me? You…you woke up something that I don't think I can put back to sleep, and I'm both eager and afraid to run with it."

The alarm blared again and she pushed at his chest before he could respond. "Get dressed, you nudist! How can I concentrate with you running around tempting me with your…your…" Her eyes trailed over his body and she groaned before turning away. "Ugh, just cover up, please!"

Kh'aan purred as the scents of their arousal saturated the air around them, and then steeled his features in an effort to appear stern. "You should focus on our enemy, ooman. I thought that you were a soldier."

"ME?"

He dodged her kick and snared the clean cloth before bolting down the corridor, and Kayla growled under her breath as she entered her room. "Focus…when this is over I'll show you focus you'll never forget!" The image of his taut glutes bounding down the hall sent a shiver down her spine. And I will never walk again.

####

Kh'aan skidded to a stop outside of the kehrite and glanced across the corridor. Even though the soiled loin cloth was gone – perhaps I will leave it in front of her door – he still needed to wash. He hurried into the lab and used the surgical wash station to clean himself, taking extra care to keep as much of her scent on his skin as possible. The thought made him shudder as he left the chamber, but he continued to the control room while his mind raced. She is not the only one 'both eager and afraid'. I have observed some oomans and countless primitive species, but apart from Gh'szan's escapades when I was a Young Blood, I know nothing about Yautja mating practices. Kayla is not Yautja. As oomans say, 'all bets are off'. Why question a good thing?

Kh'aan snorted as he snapped on the seating straps. I am curious, that is all…there is nothing wrong with curiosity. This bears no similarity to anything Gh'szan had to say. From his accounts I should be bleeding by now. Kayla is not complaining. In fact she seemed quite satisfied. What difference does it make? A tingle traveled through his loins, and the hunter smiled as he brought up the sensor grid. True enough. Kayla is my mate. We will make our own 'practices', and what others do will not matter.

The door opened, and the object of his newfound obsession strolled through making a strange noise with her enticingly pursed human lips. "What's the story here, Cap'n?"

The hunter hissed, but he was saved from admitting to further distraction when the sensor grid flashed, bringing up data about the pursuing ship in rapid succession. The vessel was crude but sturdy, equipped with an impressive weapons array and dozens of thrusters along every surface that lent the vessel exceptional maneuverability. It was not until he studied the configurations that he suddenly realized that they could actually scan the ship. He frowned, experience telling him that from such a distance, any hunter with sense would be cloaked, and thereby still undetected. The ship was closing on them quickly, and he set a course while cursing their bad luck.

"Fool! He is obviously after us, yet makes no attempt to take advantage until we notice him, which would indicate that we are being scanned as well and he knew when our sensors locked on. Yet an ally would not have weapons locked on our signal. Not to mention that a sensible hunter would remain cloaked until within engagement range. This makes no sense!"

He glanced to the side to see that Kayla had strapped into the other seat, and was gaping at him incredulously. "What the hell did you just say? Rapid-fire serpent-crickets just moshed out of your mouth, man!" She blinked a few times and raised her hands in supplication. "Please? I'd like to know, really."

Kh'aan snorted after realizing how he'd addressed her, and repeated his lengthy rant in her language. "As I said…no hunter, especially not an Arbitrator, would be so reckless."

The Human shrugged. "Well, then maybe he's not, hmm? It's possible they're just traveling the same course."

The scanner beeped. The vessel had come within range for a full sweep, and Kh'aan snarled when he read the signature. "It is another Arbitrator."

Kayla swore and threw up her hands. "Are you kidding me? Why did they suddenly send the hounds after us? Why now? Why not way back when you saved me from being a human-sicle?"

Kh'aan's tusks twitched at the strange description, but he ignored his curiosity in favor of their current plight. "I killed my brother. I suspect that once they were informed, the Council sent Arbitrators to retrieve me." After a breath he amended. "Us."

A quiet hum of agreement was her only response, and when he glanced to the side she was staring out of the viewport and gnawing on her lip. "How would they know? Your sire sent him right?" When he nodded she frowned. "I doubt that he would have wanted anyone knowing that you were on the lam, so he probably sent your brother to bring you back in order to 'keep it in the family'. I assume he told your mother, if that's who we saw on the screen, but if she's as important as he is then she wouldn't have peeped either. So who else would know that you killed him…unless…"

Kayla braced a foot against the console to turn her seat, and she leaned forward while hanging onto the arm. "Unless psycho-bro told someone else about his top-secret mission, and they sent their own goons when they lost contact with the slimy troll, and…" Her eyes eased shut and she groaned, turning forward in her seat via a kick at the console. "I'm thinking like a human…too paranoid. I have no idea how your culture would treat a situation like this."

The hunter grunted, the additional question distracting him from the moment. "Continue to think like an ooman. If I do not get us out of here, we will find out first-hand what this is all about."

Kh'aan returned his attention to the console. He may be a fool but I am not. He entered the commands to activate the cloaking shield, and was about to increase their speed when the console beeped and his controls flashed.

*SYSTEM INOPERATIVE*

"What!" An angry hiss escaped his clamped tusks and his fingers raced across the console in search of the problem. From his side Kayla's voice was curious but apprehensive.

"What's the matter?"

"The shielding system is damaged! The hull shielding is at 60% and the cloak is completely inoperative! Pauk!"

She turned the seat to gape at him. "You can't be serious? How the hell did that happen?"

The hunter hissed and chirped like a pack of angry hamsters, all but punching commands into the console. "We happened! We did it…well…I did it when he was chasing us."

"Oh, for the love 'a Pete! So you're saying we jacked up our own ride?"

"Yes."

"Fuck!" She fell back into the seat with a disgruntled huff and watched the visual kaleidoscope of space pass the viewport. This is some sadistic joke, isn't it? Any minute now some Yautja Game Show Host is going to pop out of the floor grating chirping 'SURPRISE! You're on Prey for your Life, and I'm your host, Fugly Nofun Jokannon'. The thought brought a chuckle to her lips, and the marine allowed it to bloom to a healthy laugh as she straightened in the seat.

"Alright, Chief. Let's get this show on the road." Her eyes perused the console as years of military training and service eased over her mind. They settled on a small indicator in the bottom right corner – a diamond shape on a stilt with a short spine. She touched the icon and dragged it up the slide, pleased when the enormous chair moved closer to the console. "Bingo! Pass me the sensors; you'll need an extra pair of eyes."

Kh'aan peered at her for a moment before activating the secondary grid. "I prefer the two that I have, but thank you."

"Mmmhmmm…what?" Kayla gaped at him before a snort of laughter escaped. "Oh my god, you ham! What am I going to do with you?"

The hunter's mandibles tapped mischievously. "I have several suggestions, if you are out of ideas."

"KH'AAN! Jeez…who said 'focus', huh?" The human hid a laugh behind her hand and turned her attention back to the sensors.

"I did," the hunter affirmed, unable to stop himself now. "And I am…certainly."

Kayla felt a chill down her spine and her eyes snapped to his. Kh'aan smirked before his gaze leisurely toured her form, and if he had eyebrows instead of those spines, she swore they'd be wiggling suggestively. "I am always focused," he stated firmly, though his tusks twitched again.

"Uh huh…well when Big Brain manages to corral Little Brain back in your pants, maybe you could tell them to get us out of here?" She winked at him and reached across the console to the manual release. "Unless you want me to drive!"

The hunter snarled and batted away her hand. "Absolutely not! We must escape, not crash."

They laughed heartily before returning their attention to the console. Kayla's eyes scanned the sensor grid carefully while she studied the various icons around the edges of the screen. She reached forward to tap an indicator that resembled an exploding plus sign, but a warning in her mind made her pause and consult her companion.

"Kh'aan?"

"Yes." Distraction laced his tone.

"Which commands are for weapons control?"

He looked at her with wide eyes, and his voice was hard with warning. "On the left of the grid…DO NOT…"

"No." The human gave him a reassuring smile. "That's why I wanted to know where they were."

Kh'aan's attention returned to their course, but Kayla's lingered on him. Even with military focus at the forefront of her mind, another sense was growing beneath survival. It took her a minute to understand why her palms were sweating and she could not stop gnawing at the inside of her cheek. The unfamiliar sensation of deep fear settled in her gut, and the longer she stared at Kh'aan, the sharper the pain became. Remember, Grampa, when the barn caught fire and you ripped off the door with your bare hands to get to me? And you said you were so angry that I'd gone in there after you told me not to, but you pushed it down because you loved me and would have run through hell for me? I just thought you were my hero, but I think I finally understand what you meant. I'd tear a hole in the sun and rip out its core for him…and yet I'm so damned afraid of losing him that I don't want to let him out of my sight.

The hunter felt eyes on him, and glanced to the side to see an odd expression on Kayla's face. If he did not know her better he would have called it fear, but after another glance he realized that it was…fear for him. Her eyes drank him in as though she might never see him again, and after another moment she gave him a small smile before returning to the sensors. A shudder coursed through his frame making his hands tremble over the controls, but the former Firstborn grinned in satisfaction. Yes, it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelming concern for my mate. And she is most definitely mine.

Kh'aan increased their speed to just below maximum and watched as their pursuer grew brighter on the screen. He is overheating his engines to catch us. Who is this reckless fool? He scanned the surrounding grid for anything to aid in their escape, and spotted a broken ring surrounding an unmarked void not far from their position. His memory tickled at the familiarity of the strange region, but the asteroid belt was too useful to ignore.

"Do you see the double ring on your console?"

Kayla's full attention was pulled away from the glowing blip of the Arbitrator. She met his gaze and then scanned the sensors. "Yes, what is that?"

"An asteroid field."

The human groaned and started to lean back when her eyes snapped open and returned to the grid. "No wormholes, are there?"

Kh'aan chuckled. "I have not detected any in this vicinity. However, now that you have reminded me we should look for them. That type of disturbance would appear as a group of waving lines on the sensors." When she nodded he continued. "I will lead him there, and hopefully we will be able to lose him." He did not mention the Arbitrator's superior maneuverability, and prayed to Paya that they could outsmart him.

########

On the periphery of the star system a cloaked vessel paralleled the chase, monitoring predator and prey for a weakness to exploit. The stolen ship increased speed as was expected, but the pursuing Arbitrator seemed to ignore all rules of engagement. Keen eyes narrowed as they studied the sensors. Why have you disregarded your cloak, you ignorant fool? The vessel began to glow on the sensor grid, indicating strain on the power systems as the reckless Arbitrator pushed his ship to its limit. You will burn out your own manifolds before you have any chance to catch them. How did the Council ever grant you status as an Arbitrator?

His attention was diverted as a message came through. Rather than open a channel, he read the transcript and snarled. 'Your status' indeed. If you continue to pester me I will have no progress to report. After another glance at the sensors and a quick adjustment to his course, the Arbitrator composed a brief message that would hopefully get the point across.

"In pursuit. Will update when new information available."

The male tapped 'send' on the console, and then silenced the comm. to avoid further pointless interruption. Pompous dignitaries. He bit back a snarl and refocused on the chase. Kh'val's vessel was heading for the Yin'kanta Field, a foolish maneuver for any ship, especially one as large as the deceased Arbitrator's. If you destroy yourself it will defeat the purpose of flight, Firstborn. Not wanting to lose them, he set a course that left him close enough to scan both vessels without being detected.

Suddenly an energy blast flared along the fugitive's hull causing them to bank directly into the field. He could almost hear the Firstborn swearing as the ship rolled to avoid colliding with an enormous rock, but the Arbitrator was not so lucky. His vessel grazed along another spinning asteroid spewing sparks in its wake, and the brief delay allowed his prey to travel deeper into the Field. The watcher enhanced his sensors and chuckled heartily at the irony. Had you taken the time to think, fool, you would have been able to plot a course that anticipated the Firstborn's maneuvers. Instead there is a hole in your ship. Normally he would assist a fellow Arbitrator, but was entirely too entertained to do more than laugh. It would be the ultimate dishonor if he lost them due to his own ineptitude. How fitting.

The Arbitrator's amusement was cut short when his own proximity alarms blasted their warning. He decreased speed quickly and eased toward the Field, careful to avoid debris or the spinning asteroids. Something about this region of space tickled his memory, but he focused on the pursuit before the targets were lost. He was surprised how much agility the Firstborn was getting out of Kh'val's vessel, considering that the hotheaded Thirdborn always complained about his 'flying rock'. Evidently he was simply a poor pilot.

His thoughts were silenced as he watched the sensors; the Arbitrator's ship suddenly jumped forward from some new burst of power, ramming the fugitives directly into the path of a small spinning boulder. The ship twisted into a dive barely missing the asteroid, and a snarl echoed through the control room. You will kill them you idiot! We are to return them alive, not vaporized! Pauk! When we return I will demand that the Council rescind your status as Arbitrator!

He eased forward slightly hoping that they did not detect the undulating waves of his presence. If timed right, he could divert the Firstborn out of harm's way without either vessel knowing of his involvement, but it would take expert precision. He snarled as his hands danced across the console, but moments later the effort was made pointless. The proximity alarm sounded just as Kh'val's vessel seemed to explode from around another boulder, a bright flare emitting from the engines as the ship retaliated and rammed the pursuing Arbitrator's vessel. The two ships broke apart briefly before the Firstborn fled deeper into the Field as quickly as his damaged ship would maneuver. Their pursuer seemed to ignore his own problems and immediately resumed pursuit, forcing the observer to catch up as quickly as possible.

Their haphazard course continued through the Field, dodging asteroids while attempting to crash each other into them. Hanging back, the watcher tried to ignore a warning in the back of his mind, but as they drew closer to the inner boundary his head began to throb. His eyes darted between the console and viewport, and he nearly missed the surge of electricity directly before the two vessels as they breached the interior void. A bark of surprise lodged in his throat, and he barely managed to pull back as Arbitrator and Firstborn disappeared into nothingness. After several minutes staring into empty space, he sent a message that would most likely not be received well.

"Have pursued quarry to the Yin'kanta Field. They have breached the interior void and I cannot pursue. Please advise." He tapped his talons on the console pondering the Firstborn's ill-advised escape route, and moments later received the unwanted response.

"Await my arrival. I will see to this myself."

The Arbitrator sat back with a snarl. Now I must deal with the last individual that I want to see. Pauk!

########

Kh'aan swore as explosions rocked the ship around them. This new Arbitrator seemed intent on vaporizing them, but apparently had horrible aim. Energy blasts lit up space around the ship and rocked them with shockwaves, and the hunter tried to ignore the rapid blinking of the fire alarm in engineering. From the other seat Kayla spewed her own litany of profanities as she was thrown around in her seat. "Warning shots my ass! Is he blind?"

The scanned their surroundings for any safe place to set down, but aside from leaving themselves vulnerable on the surface of an asteroid, there was nowhere to land. Another explosion from engineering nearly ripped the manual controls from his frantic grip, and the hunter growled as he tried to wrestle the vessel back under control.

"K…Kh….an! Mmm..maa…makeitstop!"

He risked a glance and immediately averted his eyes before panic got the best of him. His frantic course changes had finally damaged the stabilizers, and though his massive bulk remained in place, Kayla's smaller frame jostled around in the loose harness. He winced as she snapped forward barely missing the console, and finally decided to risk the unknown before their escape killed her. He heard a disturbing crack followed by a hiss from the Human, and then the light tap of something hitting the console. "Bbbroke a fffucking TOOTH, Kh'aan! Sssstop this crazy thing!"

"Pauk! Enough of this!" With the Arbitrator tight on their tail, Kh'aan banked hard to the right and abruptly shot out of the asteroid field. They met slight resistance at the boundary that gave him reason for concern, but their new surroundings suddenly demanded his attention. The moment they passed out of the field an enormous planet filled the viewport. It had not been indicated on the sensor grid or star chart, and upon seeing it Kh'aan felt a pit form in his stomach. We should not be here…

"Holy shit! Where the…hell did that p…planet come from?" Kayla coughed beside him. "It wasn't…it wasn't on the grid." She took another labored breath and looked at him with wide eyes. "Something's wrong! It's…it's getting hard to breathe!"

"The fire system! It removes oxygen from the air. We must land, but…" Something told him that this planet was not the salvation that they sought, but another gasp from Kayla and blast from the Arbitrator made up his mind.

"Hold on!"

Banking sharply, Kh'aan spun around in a tight arc that surprised their pursuer. Repeating the tactic that had damaged Kh'val's ship in the first place, he shot toward the other ship and violently scraped their hulls together as he passed along the underside. Another explosion ripped through engineering and the console began to blink rapid warnings of cabin pressure and fire, but the Arbitrator had been surprised enough that Kh'aan bought them some time. Altering course, he pushed the damaged ship to the limit and dove for the planet's surface.

A gasp from the side made him wince, and at a glance his panic surged into overdrive. Kayla was trying desperately to hold her breath, but her features were turning a strange shade and heat was rising in her chest even as her face began to cool. He turned his attention back to their course and was surprised when his vision began to waver. If I am being affected, she is suffocating! C'jit!

As they broke through the atmosphere Kh'aan spotted a clearing large enough for his ship. At the moment he could not think to scan for life or enemies, and a tingle began in his toes from the lack of breathable air. Faster you stupid machine! He circled once barely giving the engines enough time to throttle back, and literally dropped the ship into the clearing with a resounding thud that reverberated across the landscape. The moment they touched down he ripped off his harness and tore through Kayla's, scooping up the human in a mad dash for the airlock. At the base of the stairs the hunter nearly collapsed from the toxic fumes, and he pushed forward blindly hoping to find the airlock before oblivion found him. Kayla was frighteningly still in his arms, and as he groped for the access panel he tried to feel for a pulse beneath her skin. Do not die! Do not die! We are almost out! Please, Kayla!

The airlock opened in slow motion for the suffocating hunter, and he stumbled out of the ship on rubber legs. Halfway down the ramp the lack of air finally toppled the mighty Firstborn, and his eyes rolled up in his head as he crashed to the ground cradling Kayla against his chest. The impact and force of over 300 lbs acted like CPR to the human, and her eyes shot open as she gasped for much needed air.

"Kh'aan? What the…where…KH'AAN!" Her eyes widened in fear and a lump settled in her throat that made breathing even more difficult. The hunter's mandibles were slack and his eyes wide open, frightening the marine enough to give her the strength to roll him off of her legs and onto his back. "Kh'aan! Oh crap he's not breathing! Kh'aan!" She smacked his face to no effect, and felt at a loss with nearly fruitless CPR training racing through her mind. Mouth to mouth…would it work without lips? Would it work on him at all?

Panic and despair, bosom buddies in the worst of times, caressed her spine with their icy touch and kicked the former soldier into action before she could crumble. She scrambled up to straddle his chest, and then carefully folded his tusks closed leaving a small hole between them. Crossing her hands over the opening, she shifted her fingers around until they managed to make a seal over his mouth with a small crease between her the index finger of her left hand and the thumb of her right. Her hands shook more than she liked, and the marine let out a harsh snort usually reserved for misbehaving teammates.

"Ok, here goes…oh shit!" Panic crisscrossed the instructions in her mind, and Kayla nearly forgot the two most important steps in CPR. Holding her hands tight over his mouth, she stretched down to nudge his chin with her head until she was certain that the airway was open. Resuming her position, the marine raised one knee from the ground and pressed it firmly against his torso directly beneath his ribs. This isn't going to work, it's not gonna fucking work! YES IT WILL GODDAMMIT!

Kayla's chest grew tight at the thought of failure, and she felt his tusks pierce her fingers as she gripped his mouth tightly. "Come on, Kh'aan!"

She straightened up as best she could and began to take deep breaths, each filling her lungs more than the last. On the fifth breath when her lungs felt like they would burst, she pressed her mouth to her fingers and blew into his mouth with as much force as she could. Just as she thought that her head would explode she felt slight pressure on her knee, and released his mouth to push back against it. The hunter expelled a huff of toxic fumes into her face, but she took strength in the fact that it seemed to be working. Kayla heaved another series of deep breaths and again forced the last into his mouth. The pressure against her knee seemed lessened, but when she pressed into his chest he expelled even more of the tainted air. Come on, baby! One more time for me! Kayla kept the pressure of her knee beneath his sternum and prepared another breath, but as she leaned forward the hunter suddenly coughed and bucked her from his chest as he gasped for air.

The marine scrambled back to his side and, not knowing what else to do, reached forward to hold his face in her hands. "Kh'aan? My god, it worked! Kh'aan, focus on me…easy now…slow, deep breaths."

The hunter blinked rapidly as Kayla's features slowly clarified. For a moment he felt thoroughly confused, but then he remembered the crash and fumes. He sat up abruptly and grasped her shoulders, but the movement was too sudden and his eyes rolled back in his head again. The human bit her lip and carefully lowered him back to the ground while her thumb lightly caressed his jaw.

"Don't move so fast! I can't believe mouth-to-mouth worked on you! You've gotta be more careful, man! There are no more modules, no pools, no Mr'aal to save our asses! I could have…"

The hunter's hand snapped up over her mouth, and as her eyes narrowed he began to purr. "I do not need them. I have you."

"I…wha…but…" Her face heated in understanding for a moment, but before she could respond a deafening roar echoed from all sides. They peered across the clearing to see a plume of smoke beyond the trees, and an enormous red blur charging toward them at top speed. Kh'aan and Kayla exchanged a glance before the hunter tried to rise to his feet, but between the crash landing and asphyxiation he was more than a little disoriented. Their adversary covered more ground in the seconds that Kh'aan struggled, and Kayla pressed a hand to his shoulder.

"Get yourself together. I'll keep him busy."

She moved to stand when his hand clamped around her arm. When their eyes met his were overflowing with concern. "No! He is dangerous! He will destroy you with one hit! He will…"

Kayla placed a finger over his mouth while her eyes tracked the approaching mountain. "I take it you know him?"

Kh'aan struggled to sit up but each movement brought waves of nausea. "We have met, but I do not remember his name. I do know that he is the most reckless, unpredictable, unstable Arbitrator in the clans." He braced his hands on the ground but his arms shook with the effort to rise, and when his color paled Kayla pushed him back down to the grass. The corners of her mouth quirked into a small smile, and she leaned forward to plant a kiss on his brow. "If he fights like he flies, he's still only half as reckless as a human. Trust me…I got this."

Fear rocked the hunter's frame as he struggled to rise, but he could not stop his mate from sprinting across the clearing toward a being four times her size. Paya give me strength! Get up, you fool!Get up!