Chapter 12: No Need for Dreaming

The air was quiet as it softly blew through the trees. A flock of birds had nestled down in a tree far back in the woods. They suddenly fluttered away after being disturbed by an unseen figure. A blurry figure climbed up onto a high branch. Drops of green blood glowed in the dark. The figure sat down and deactivated his cloaking device. Mutt appeared on the branch. He purred with slight pain as he examined his wounds. It was going to take a lot of patchwork. He retrieved his pack unit from his back and placed it in front of him. He opened it and looked over his tools. He grabbed one and unfolded it. Mutt took a bottle of medicine out and screwed it into place on the gadget. He brought it near the gashes on one side of his torso. Holding the gadget close, he sprayed the medicine onto the claw marks. Mutt cringed and croaked. It stung like hell. He performed the same procedure on his other side. The medicine would hopefully close off the open veins, cauterizing the wounds.

Mutt tensed up. The pain wasn't going away. He set his one tool down and grabbed another. He turned it on and held it against his wound. After pressing the button on the medical tool, a wave of new pain shot throughout Mutt's body. He tossed his head back and howled. Placing the tool down, he held his sides and almost began to cry. The pain was unbelievable. It seemed that the attack made by the praetorian bent his ribs slightly when he was picked up. He had to let them heal up before he could do any more hunting. He decided on what was the best way to keep himself from moving around too much. He packed up and then headed for his "tree-camp".

After arriving, he unpacked his medical kit again and pulled out a gadget. A needle ejected from the tech. Mutt held the needle in front of his stomach. He hesitated for a moment. The pain was coming back. He had to do it. Mutt screamed in pain as he shot himself with the needle. Suddenly he felt drowsy. He packed his kit up and set it aside. Sleep was overcoming him. He had to rest for awhile. He pulled the tubes from his mask out and pried it off his face. Setting that aside, Mutt laid his head down. His forehead was wet from sweat, and there was dried blood around his mouth. He would've cleaned himself up a bit, but the drug was already kicking in. Everything was beginning to fade out. Slowly, he closed his eyes. He began to dream.

. . .

"Come on! Fall down!"

Mut'terk braced himself against his opponent, though this was a rather unfair match. He was much smaller than the yautja he was going up against. He tried to push him away, but he kept coming down on him.

"Make me!" he snarled, and he moved aside. He threw the larger jehdin off balance. He hit the mat hard.

"C'jit!* You bastard!" The yautja swung his leg around, smacking Mut'terk in the jaw when he looked around at him. Now Mut'terk was the one hitting the floor. He was out of moves. He laid there breathing heavily.

"Ki'cte! Ki'cte!*" he panted.

"You're s'yuitde!*" his opponent snapped. As he walked away, he spat at him.

Mut'terk looked up and saw his elder. He didn't say anything, and then shook his head with shame and walked away. Mut'terk watched as he walked past him. He remained on the floor. There were small spots of sweat around him. Mut'terk stopped moving. He got the sudden feeling that someone was watching him. He looked to his right. Off in the background in the shadows, he saw a jehdin. He seemed much older than Mut'terk was. He stepped into the light. He was sure enough an elder, but from a different clan.

"That move there was quite impressive," the elder yautja spoke up. Mut'terk glared at him.

"Yeah, and it just got me a look of disgrace from my elder! How is that impressive?" The elder just simply chuckled to himself.

"Because, you remind me of myself when I was younger," he replied. He walked over to Mut'terk and held his hand out. Mutt looked at the outstretched hand for a moment before taking it. The elder helped him stand up. Mut'terk immediately pushed him away and turned his back on him. He started to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" the elder asked him.

"To my clan!" Mut'terk snapped.

"After the way they just treated you?" Mut'terk paused. He hung his head. The elder stared at him. Mut'terk finally turned around to face him.

"What do you want?"

"Come, I'll show you," the elder replied. Mutt hesitated, the elder yautja turned and headed for the doorway of the hut. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Are you coming? Or are you not?" Mut'terk stood there for a second, he didn't make any response. He finally began to slowly follow the yautja. Once outside, they began to walk.

"So what is this that you want to show me?" Mut'terk asked the elder. The yautja seemed to ignore the question. Instead, he looked up at the sky as they walked.

"Back when I was around your age, I too was an outcast," he began.

"Outcast? Who are you calling an-" Mut'terk was cut off.

"I was young, naive, unskilled. I was reckless," he continued. He lowered his head. "None of my clan mates appreciated me. My skills were unique, but sloppy. I had no real skill." He looked at Mut'terk. "Just like you."

"What are you getting at, old one?" Mutt asked with impatience. The elder simply smiled under his tusks. He clicked a chuckle.

"You'll see soon enough."

He lead him to a temple. It was different looking from the other various temples that surrounded it. It looked old, abandoned, and yet Mut'terk could pick up the slightest sounds of other yautja from inside. The elder lead him up the steps to the doorway. Mut'terk stopped at the top step.

"Hold up. Just what is this all about? Who are you, and why are you showing me all of this?" The elder cocked his head.

"Well, since you asked...I'll tell you. I'm called Ye'chak, and I'm the head of the clan you are about to meet!" Ye'chak walked through the doorway. Mut'terk slowly followed.

Once inside, Mut'terk paused. He looked around the room he was now in. He remembered how clans usually carry a theme to distinguish which clan they are from, but the yautja that he saw in the room looked like as if they all came from different clans. One of them approached Ye'chak. Mut'terk studied his appearance. He was average height, about Mut'terk's height. His armor was gray and dull with small brass colored trimming. His skin was speckled and creamy pale.

"You're recruiting another one?" the yautja asked. Ye'chak nodded.

"I hope so," he replied.

"Hmm." The yautja looked Mut'terk up and down. He then placed a hand on his shoulder and shook it. "Gkaun-yte*, newcomer. I'm Hult'sei." Mut'terk shook his shoulder back.

"Mut'terk," he answered.

"Hult, would you introduce our guest to all of his future brothers?" Ye'chak asked.

"Ki'sei*," Hult replied nodding. "Follow me, Mut'terk."

Hult turned to show him around. The other yautja all were very different indeed. There was Dtai'ah the cybernetic yautja. He was the largest of the hunters. He was missing an arm and a leg. One of his eyes was robotic. He grunted a brief "hello" to him. Next, there was Mar'uha. His was a talented sniper with the spear gun. His weapons consisted of mainly guns. Then there was Bak'shui, the most recent member of the clan, and the elder's son. He was clumsy and naive. Next, Hult introduced Mut'terk to Kain'var. He was stubborn, but respective. Hult told him how he was known for overusing his cloak on hunts. Then he introduced him the the last of the yautja in the room.

"And this is Nrak'ja. His skills are with the blade, and the blade only."

"I'm Mut'terk," Mut'terk greeted him by shaking his shoulder. Nrak'ja didn't respond. "Is he stubborn too?" Mut'terk asked Hult.

"Not sure. He has never spoken a word ever since he joined the clan. At least that's what Ye says."

"Oh, well I'm sorry, Nrak'ja," Mut'terk apologized. Nrak'ja finally nodded back in response. He reached out and shook Mut'terk's shoulder. Ye'chak came up from behind the little group.

"So kid, what do you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's simple. This is a clan I started. The clan of outcasts." Mut'terk cocked his head.

"Huh?"

. . .

"Who's this?" Ye'chak asked. Mut'terk looked at the battered yautja next to him.

"His name is Yin'tek," Mut'terk answered him. "I found him in the gutter. It seems he doesn't belong to a clan."

"Really?" Ye raised an eyebrow. He raised an arm and placed his hand on his shoulder and shook it. "N'jauka*, Yin'tek!" Yin'tek shook his shoulder back.

"Thanks," he answered in a low voice.

"Mut'terk?"

"Sei-i?*"

"Could you please show out new member around? Let him get to know our clan."

"Of course," Mut'terk nodded. He placed a hand on Yin'tek's shoulder and began to lead him away. "Follow me. I'll point out who's who." Yin'tek suddenly grabbed Mut'terk's hand and pulled it off of his shoulder.

"Listen here, I don't need you to "show me around", alright?" Yin'tek's voice was harsh and cold. "I don't need your help, Mutt!" He shoved a finger in his face. Mut'terk took a few steps back.

"Whoa! Take it easy!" Mut'terk looked at him like as if he just saw a xeno tap dancing.

Yin'tek snarled at him, but then lowered his finger when he saw a towering yautja come up behind Mut'terk. One of his eyes seemed to be glowing. He heard the sound of machinery and robotics as he crossed his arms.

"In this clan, we watch each others backs. Any yautja who decides to hunt alone is not welcome." The voice of the tall yautja was low and menacing. Yin'tek cringed back. All the other yautja in the room gathered around Yin'tek, surrounding him. He lowered his head with shame. When you dishonor the clan, you're also dishonoring the leader.

"Now, are you going to cut the bullshit and be a part of the brotherhood, or should I just kick you out right now?" Ye didn't sound very happy. Mut'terk had only been there for two months, and he had never heard the clan elder sound so threatening.

Yin'tek finally lifted his head up to look at Ye.

"Sei-i."

. . .

"That was an amazing hunt! My first time to hunt monsters like that!" Mutt pulled his mask off. Tek chuckled.

"Yeah, and if it wasn't for me, you'd still be on that retched ground!"

"Sure, whatever you say, Tek," Mutt said with exaggeration.

"When are you going to stop calling me that?" Tek asked.

"As soon as you stop calling me Mutt!" Mutt replied.

Nrak'ja came over and sat down next to them. He began to remove his weapons and place them next to him. He picked up his main blade and took a rag out and began to polish it. Mutt and Tek looked at each other.

"That was a great hunt, don't you think Nrak?" Mutt asked him. Nrak'ja simply nodded without stopping. Tek sighed.

"So, how many did you kill?" he asked. The samurai didn't respond.

"Forget it, Tek. You know he won't answer!" Mutt reminded him.

"I know. I just wanna see if he ever will speak, ya'know?"

"Ow!"

Mutt and Tek looked up.

"Was that the elder's son?"

"Heh. It's a miracle that he survived the hunt!" Tek answered. They both saw the scrawny yautja rubbing his arm. Just then, a smaller yautja appeared in front of him.

Mutt stopped what he was doing and stared. It was a lou-dte kale. She was small and thin, yet seemed to pack a powerful punch as she hit the elder's son in the arm again. Her dreads were long and sleek, and they ran down her back to her waist. She had pale-creamy skin with brown jagged stripes running down her sides with little freckles clustered around them. Her clothing consisted of worn leather pieces. One covering her small breast, and one around her waist. She turned and spotted the other yautja watching her. Mutt's heart jumped. Her eyes were a lavender pink with yellow outlines. They were pretty.

She cocked her head at then and purred a threatening growl at them, but then she slowly began to make her way towards them. Mutt's heart began to beat faster. She came right up to him and looked hard into his blue-orange eyes.

"Uh...Hi...I'm-" The little lou-dte kale suddenly landed her fist into his stomach. "Oof!" Mutt grabbed his stomach. "What was that for?"

"I'm Yeyin-jadhi, but you will call me Jade! Understand?" the small yautja huffed at him.

"Yeah, yeah! Ki'sei!" Mutt answered quickly.

"Good!" Jade said with satisfaction. She purred and then left. Mutt watched as she made her dreadlocks swish back and forth. He felt a nudge on his shoulder. He looked around to see a smiling Tek.

"She likes you," he said grinning.

"What?" Mutt turned colors. "What makes you think that?" Tek chuckled.

"Well, for one thing...She only talked to you when there are three of us here," Tek pointed out.

"Yeah? So?"

"So...Why would she only talk to you?"

"I don't know."

"I think she likes you! Hey, Nrak! What do ya think?"

Nrak'ja was silent. He seemed to ignore him and continued to polish his weapons.

"See? Even Nrak agrees with me!"

"He didn't even say anything!"

"So?"

"What is with you?" Mutt shouted. Tek smiled.

"Ah ha ha ha! I think you like her too!"

"What?"

. . .

Mutt sat alone on a mat with his legs crossed. He was meditating. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed and exhaled. He suddenly got the feeling that he wasn't alone. Opening one eye, he looked around.

"Huh?" Mutt opened both eyes and looked at the yautja who was now sitting next to him.

Jade was sitting with her legs crossed and her eyes shut. She opened one eye and looked at him.

"What's with you?" she asked as if nothing was wrong.

"You! You! You appeared out of nowhere!" Mutt stammered. "How did you-!"

"Hush!" Jade cut him off. She closed her eye. "I'm meditating!"

"Why are you here, Jade? Where's your father?" Mutt asked. Jade opened one eye again.

"Why not?" she answered him. "I find you..." She paused. "Interesting."

"Interesting?"

"Yeah! Now shut up and let me think!" She closed her eye again.

Mutt sat there looking at her for a moment. He eventually relaxed and looked ahead. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly.

Why was she following me? Maybe she really does like me? I don't know anymore.

. . .

Mutt opened one eye. He was back in his tree. Back on Earth. Then he remembered what had happened. How long was he out? Hopefully it wasn't too long. Sitting up, Mutt stretched and yawned. That was a good rest. He really needed that. He shook his dread locks and looked around at the ground below. He purred with a sense of ease. His stomach growled. Mutt reached around and took out a strip of meat. He bit off a piece of the jerky and chewed it slowly. It tasted good. It felt like as if he hadn't eaten in days. Maybe he was out for days. Mutt sighed and bit off another piece. As he chewed, he listened to the birds as they sang songs in the trees. Mutt looked down at his wounds. They were healing up, but they were still not fully healed up. That fight was intense. That damn overgrown bug! This was gonna cost him!

Mutt chuckled. He remembered that he had already made it pay for his wounds. Blowing its head off with a plasma gun was pretty cool. He couldn't wait to tell his friends back at home. He had faced off, and defeated a freaking praetorian! He couldn't wait to see what Tek's face would look like once he would tell him the news. Then he thought of Jade. Oh, how this would excite her. She always loved to hear stories about his encounters. Mutt smiled under his tusks. He knew that she would probably make fun of him after hearing the part about him almost being killed by the overgrown xeno.

After defeating the praetorian, he thought that it was just as well over, but something was troubling him. Something was wrong, he could feel it deep within his gut. Mutt finally decided to stick around for a few more days in case there were still any more remaining xenos. He took another bit of the jerky and chewed on it. The flavor was nice and juicy. Just like how he liked it.

*c'jit – expletive

*ki'cte – enough

*s'yuitde – pathetic

*gkaun-yte – greetings; hello

*ki'sei – I agree; I understand

*n'jauka – welcome

*sei-i – yes; affirmative