Chapter 11 Trouble brewing
Alright- a little explanation… I lost chapter 11, and 12, and I can't remember if I wrote 13 but if I did I lost that too… because I like to write it out on paper before typing it that way it's easier to find mistakes…
Buuuut some of you are getting antsy and I feel bad… so I'm gonna try and wing it… so don't expect gold… or silver… it's bronze at most here…
Also… I had intended to go to Nxynoh on a later chapter… but since I lost the chapters I ended up beginning a side story about that… when they go… with some characters you haven't really met yet
It's hard since I know where I am but don't know where you are… but I'm trying…
But a bonus… I'd like to think I've gotten better at writing since the beginning… so… that should be fun… also if you haven't figured it out yet… if you read something and you find yourself thinking "wait but back in chapter _ she said _" forget that part… go with the most recent thing… I know… super bad on my part but while I was writing this not only was I new to the whole Yautja thing, but I was still in the process of making the characters and the whole story as a whole… so it's a little bouncy…
I apologize… also if you have ideas I'd be happy to hear them… ^_^
Also don't expect a long chapter…
~*~ Start ~*~
It was the same as the day before, Echo awoke to Rue-n' leaving and the disappointment and abandonment it brought.
She still had nothing to do, and couldn't leave the house.
"I'm not so sure I can do this forever" Echo sighs waiting for Key-ch'in to come and leave her food again.
Today, however, Tre-a' arrived much earlier.
Upon seeing the half blooded girl Echo's tail began to wag, something that rarely happened unless she was truly happy, this was because her tail often moved only when she was annoyed, like a cat.
"You're here early" Echo purrs.
"Are you complaining?" the girl laughs.
"Of course not" Echo gasps as she's pulled into a hug, still not quite use to the touching thing.
"Okay then… let's go" Tre-a' pulls Echo to the door.
"What?" Echo retracts, she wasn't stupid, she knew there was a reason she wasn't allowed out of the house… there were more than a few beings out there that would delight in killing her.
"oh don't worry, we're just going for a walk, and see" she opens the door to reveal a nervous looking Key-ch'in standing awkwardly in the hall, "we'll even have an escort" she snickers.
"Miss Tre-a' are you sure about this?" the young male questions.
"Oh don't be such a whiney baby, now you, come on" she pulls Echo from the residence and down the hallway.
"Where are we going?" Echo asks again sticking close to Tre-a' but keeping a strong stance, the last thing she needed was a Yautja thinking she was an easy target and causing a problem.
"Around…" She grins
Later they come across a place where males were rarely seen. Now they were all getting curious looks from all sorts of fearsome looking females.
"Tre-a' we're not supposed to be here!" Key-ch'in warns
Tre-a' shrugs, "I work here remember?"
Echo gasps, "Does this mean this is the nursery?" the girl looks around excitedly.
She knew what they became, but was quite curious of how a Yautja looked as a baby, all babies are cute right? Not that she didn't find the adults attractive…
Tre-a' nods.
It's not long before they enter something similar to a human nursery, with just a Yautja look.
All around are sucklings, of different colors and sizes, some appearing a little older while others seem quite young.
"Oh they're so cute" Echo coos teasing the foot of a little bluish one.
Key-ch'in moves closer to Tre-a', and out of Echo's earshot.
"I know what you're doing and Master Rue-n' won't be happy with it!" he hisses.
"Oh shut up" Tre-a' argues.
"What even makes you think it's going to work, huh?" The male continues.
Echo turns back to the group.
"Ohh I want one" she squeals.
Tre-a' looks at Key-ch'in with a grin.
"I bet it will" she chuckles.
By now even key-ch'in's lightened up some as they were seated on the floor with a pair of twins crawling around between them.
The sucklings, nearly pups at about a year old are rolling around wrestling.
Echo was assured the behavior was normal and in fact essential to their growth as hunters, but that didn't make her less inclined to snuggle the little guy when he came running to her in a tizzy.
"Oh baby, its okay" she cuddled him, holding the young one into her chest and playing with his little hand.
"Miss Echo" Key-ch'in scolded softly as to not cross a boundary, "You can't keep him"
Echo pouts, "I know… he's just… so… cute" she tickles the bottom of his chubby foot delighting in his ticklish squirming.
By the time they leave the nursery, receiving glares from other females, Echo has more of a bounce in her step, day brightened by the little balls of cute.
Out of earshot Tre-a' smirks with puffed-up confidence.
"I bet she's pregnant by next week" she smirks.
"Oh shush"
This was in fact not possible, since as Rei-koe informed those there, a Kainoen can only get impregnated by a Yautja on Nyxnoh's polar cycles the "winter" and "summer" of the much more temperate climate.
As they near Echo's home they fall silent upon spotting a gruff and dominant looking male.
"Uh Tre-a'…?" Echo points to the male.
The Yautja female squeals and runs up to the man.
"Master Tao-ja'!" she pounces on him, wrapping her arms around him in a human like hug.
Echo looks to Key-ch'in for direction, were they in trouble?
The young male was, however, no help at all. He took on the appearance of a child caught in the cookie jar.
This Tao-ja' was a serious person, he looked older then, perhaps even Rei-koe and was riddled, along his deep violet skin, with battle scars. He did not look like someone you wanted to mess with.
But Tre-a' seamed to trust him enough, she was hugging him after all.
So Echo decided to move closer, slowly, tugging Key-ch'in along with her.
Once closer they could hear his stern commanding voice speaking to Tre-a'.
"Off, get off!" he growled, "you bizarre little girl!"
Echo giggled, it appears Tre-a' acted this way to everyone.
At least everyone that treated her kindly.
"Hello?" Echo decided to great the man.
Tao-ja' pushes Tre-a' off of him and turns his attention to Echo.
"You must be Echo" he smiles kindly and offers his hand, in an Ooman gesture.
She takes it, not wanting to offend, but never the less it looked odd. He was much bigger and his skin was much darker then hers.
"My name is Tao-ja'" he introduces himself.
"may I ask why you're standing outside my home?" Echo says timidly, trying not to come across rude.
"I wanted to meet you, and speak to your mate" he speaks gently.
"Oh, alright, I don't think he's home right now… but come in" The girl opens the door and turns to find that Tre-a' and Key-ch'in have vanished.
She rolls her eyes and follows Tao-ja' into the home.
Rue-n' comes home, fully expecting a repeat of yesterday's events, but rather hears a male voice.
His first reaction is envy but upon further consideration he realized he knew the voice.
Entering the sitting room Rue-n' found his former teacher, and Rei-koe's friend sitting with his mate, chatting.
This can't be good.
Was the male's first thought, what possible reason does Tao-ja have to pay them a visit?
All Rue-n' knew was it couldn't be good.
"Ahh, look who's home" Tao-ja' smiles.
"uh, Hello Master Tao-ja'" Rue-n' responds.
"I was just getting to know you're little mate" The elder male speaks.
Echo could sense tension between the two and decides to leave them to talk.
"uh, I'm gonna go… get changed…" She makes some excuse and after biding farewells and hugging Rue-n' she vanishes into one of the back rooms.
"She's quite a cute little girl" Tao-ja' speaks first.
"yeah, so what are you doing here?" Rue-n' cuts to the chase.
"Mind your manners little pup" Tao-ja speaks sternly.
Rue-n' doesn't respond.
"but anyway… it's about Mi'no…" Tao-ja' continues.
"Who?" Rue-n' asks.
"Your youngest pup… with She-an'a
Rue-n' shrugs, signaling for the elder to continue.
"His barer's become quite neglectful towards him"
"Take it up with her" Rue-n' shrugs again.
Males didn't usually do much in the way of raising pups in their society and there were rules and protocols to deal with a neglectful mother, he didn't need to get involved.
Tao-ja' doesn't respond.
"What?" Rue-n' snaps.
"I want you to take him"
"Raising pup's, that's a female's job, you know that…" Rue-n answers.
"Maybe so, but you do have one of those… or have you forgotten?" he nods in the direction Echo vanished in. "it'll be good practice right?" he continues, "You plan on Sirering sucklings with her don't you?"
Rue-n' doesn't answer right away, "Maybe so… but she just moved in, she's not even settled yet, and to put the responsibility of raising another's pup, a pup that will soon grow much stronger then her… I can't do that," Rue-n defends.
"Why don't you ask her?" Tao-ja's tone has taken on a hint of annoyance.
"you know exactly what answer she'd give" Rue-n' knows that given the opportunity Echo would take in any stray.
"So why is it up for debate?"
"Because I'm not like her!" Rue-n' counters.
"I think you're afraid" Tao-ja' tries to goad the boy, thinking that perhaps Rue-n' would agree just to prove him wrong.
Rue-n' doesn't answer.
"Fine… perhaps I'll ask her myself tomorrow" Tao-ja' stands preparing to leave.
"Master Tao-ja'" Rue-n' speaks in a warning tone.
Without looking at him Tao-ja' speaks calmly, "Tell her, or I will… or worse… Tre-a' might get involved… you know she took Echo on a little field trip today… to the nursery…" The elder male smirks before changing his tone.
He turns in the direction Echo went.
"Come back and say good bye" He chuckles.
Rue-n' bristles as Echo comes bounding back in.
"Good bye" Echo tilted her head and smiled it would appear she was fond of Tao-ja' and was being friendly with her farewell.
In reality, though, she wanted him gone so her and Rue-n' could have their alone time…
The males say a traditional good bye and the young couple are left alone again…
[End Chapter 11]
Okay so this is almost entirely new… new idea… new plot… and I have more of a grip on the culture… Key-ch'in is an Unblooded male, and Sharp's son… have you met him yet? Oh yes… Tre-a's mate… although he spends a lot of time with "the group" his relationship with his father is pretty ordinary for Yautjas… they don't bond like Rei-koe's done with his sons… and you'll see **wink**
So in the original story Key-ch'in plays a minor roll with the intention he'll pop up later… but not be an overly important character… but in the new story… and rp's and such… well I've grown to like him so he's got a bigger part…
And originally I believe I never mentioned that it was Nyxnoh's cycle… but I realized I kinda intended the Earth solstice and equinox but… that would be stupid why would an alien race with no connections to earth be set up that way… so it's a minor mistake that's been fixed… and unlike the girl- period- synchronizing thing the Kainoen female does not have to be on the planet the body just knows… it's like every 182 or whatever days… half the year…
Anyway… sorry it's been so long and I apologize for mistakes… but, you know… busy…