"Can't I just hide behind you?"
"That doesn't sound much like you, Lex." Elder K'ash looked down at her.
"Yeah, courage has just fled me... Not much of my friend as of late if you ask me." Lex took steady breaths to calm her nerves. Slowly, the doors opened with a hiss and soon enough the large docking area was visible. As was the thousands of Yuatja on board. The Elder stood at the front with honorable hunters behind him and the young bloods behind the honorable.
Elder K'ash immediately went forward to talk to the Elder. Lex waited with the rest as they conversed until the Elder barked something. Scar quickly translated what he had said.
"He zaid that it was laughable that a zoft meat would able to join the rankz of the hunterz."
"'S's, Scar not 'z's."
A few hunters behind them clicked in laughter as Lex scolded Scar on his pronunciation. Even in the most serious of times Lex couldn't help but correct him.
Elder K'ash slowly moved back to where she stood.
"It's of no use. He will not allow you to even stay aboard to wait for the next vessel to go to Earth."
"What about three trials to prove she can-"
"Its okay, Scar. There's no way a smaller ship could just take me back?"
"Perhaps but I'll need a few days to get the ship ready for the journey and I don't want to leave you here. Thats just rude."
Lex laughed at his concern for being polite. It was sweet of him to car but in all honesty Lex liked the fact of staying away from the rest of the more... hostile predators.
"Three trialz to tezt her abilitiez... all I azk iz for her to be given a chance."
"I'll try."
Elder K'ash went back to where the Elder still stood amused. They exchanged words until finally Elder K'ash waved Lex forward. With cautious steps, Lex walked until she stood next to him.
"Toree trialz? You wizo to zoow your knowledge of our language and kulture as well as your figoting?"
"With your permission, sir."
"You'll zart in one week."
"Your ship you rules."
He seemed pleased enough with that last comment before he turned shouting something into the crowd causing the others to growl and roar in protest.
Lex and Elder K'ash made their way back to the others before they proceeded down the ramp together and off to their rooms. Lex followed Scar and helped him carry his stuff to his room.
"You zhouldn't have helped..."
"Its fine plus I'm still imposing on you by taking up space in your room."
"Alwayz welcomed here. Alwayz."
"Thanks."
His room here was much bigger than the room on the other ship. The bathroom had a tub not just a shower head and his trophy room had lots of shelves filled with skulls already.
Scar busied himself with putting away his belongings and finding a place to store Lex's stuff.
Once that was settled, it was on to find a place for Lex to sleep. The bed was much bigger and off the floor by a good three feet. Lex swore you could fit at least 5 Yuatja and 10 humans on the bed at the same time.
"Very funny, Lex. We zhare bed. It big enough for uz two."
"Um... Are you sure? Couldn't we just make a spot somewhere else on the floor?"
"No. We zleep now."
Lex grumbled but nevertheless climbed onto the furs and laid down at the very edge. Scar climbed in on the other side and quickly fell asleep but Lex couldn't. Not when she had three trials coming up. Three. And she needed to prove herself. Not just to live but to make Scar proud.
It was his fault I'm here but I can't just fail him. He brought me for a purpose... I can't dishonor him. I'll just have to try my best.
The next week was spent practicing her hunting forms and preparing for her first trial. It was decided that instead of putting her on an actual hunt, she'd have to prove she knew the techniques and forms they taught unblooded.
If she could prove capable of understanding, learning, and being taught the forms she'd pass the test. If Lex passed all three trials then she'd have to go on on a hunt and return with trophies of her own to be officially accepted and her mark recognized as a true mark of the blooded.
"You will pazz."
"Thanks, Scar."
He nodded to her before placing a hand on her back to lead her to the Elder. It was time to be judged.
