AN: Sorry for the delay, folks. Enjoy! -Razz
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Another Fine Mess
Chapter 14 – Houseguests
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Nusa growled under her breath at the human, who continued to warble while they walked. The male, Rha'zen, was barely able to contain his amusement at her behavior, but the brief glances from his bronze eyes made the guard wonder if their relationship was more than it seemed. His gaze, while alight with mirth, was backed by a deep connection that could not be mistaken for respect or deference.
"If she does not shut her mouth, I will seal it permanently!" Nasu snarled.
"He will not let you," she replied to her twin. She glanced over her shoulder to see the male's expression darken at their words. His eyes centered on the back of Nasu's skull and a low growl rumbled through his chest.
Nasu activated the private comm. in her helmet, opening a direct link to her sibling that their charges would not overhear. "He is weak, following this puny creature around like a lost pup! He should be ashamed of himself!"
"We do not know the complete story, Nasu. For now let us focus on our current problem." Nusa reeled in her frustration. "What about the Matriarch? She did not heed our warning. Perhaps we should take them directly to their chamber, and let her make her assessment once they are contained."
"To disobey the Matriarch is to taunt death. If she wants them removed, she will say it."
They were distracted by the female in question, who suddenly hissed and stumbled to a halt while pressing a fist to her abdomen. Her scent spiked through their masks and the male abruptly stepped toward her, but she waved off his concern and straightened her spine with a grimace. Nusa held back with Rha'zen while the human forced down her discomfort, and his scent changed to the sharp tang of concern. When they resumed their march she could not restrain her tongue.
"If you want her so badly, you should get on with it before you explode."
The hunter stumbled, his eyes widening before he dropped his gaze to stare at the ground. After a moment he shook his head, but his hesitation was not lost on the guard and she chuckled at his expense.
"Fool. You would be better off. They may kill you, but at least you would stop twitching."
This time he met the eyes behind her mask and snarled. He continued to maintain his chosen silence but his gaze now spoke of barely restrained fury, and she wisely turned forward to watch their path. "Nasu?"
"What." Her annoyance with their assignment as growing.
"I will take them to their chamber. If the Matriarch questions you, tell her that I insisted."
"Why take the risk? Let her handle this."
The slightly older guard growled at her sibling. "I will, after I secure them where they cannot disrupt everyone."
Nasu stopped short causing the human to bump into her. She spared the female a sharp bark of indignation before shoving past and marching over to growl in Nusa's face.
"And just what do you propose that I tell her?" she hissed.
"I do not know, perhaps the truth? That the female is in heat and should not be allowed to attend meals with us in her current state? That her word as Matriarch will be forfeit if the human's scent starts a riot in the temple?" Nusa growled and pushed past her twin. "Tell her anything. Most likely she will knock you over in her haste to question them."
They reached the precipice of the city, and after another glance Nasu ran down ahead of their group. The human paused with a curious expression on her strange features, and then turned to the hunter.
"Where is she going?"
The male passed his gaze to Nusa who snorted before answering. "She will inform the Matriarch that you will not be joining us for Last Meal."
His tusks drooped but she saw the smile in his eyes as he turned to the human. He pointed to her and then gestured to her abdomen, and her confusion seemed genuine.
"What? What about me? Is something wrong?"
He pointed to her again, growled and gestured to the city, and then leaned forward to breathe her scent. The female stepped back with an annoyed frown.
"What? Are you saying that I smell? I can take a bath you know! Come on, I'm hungry!"
Rha'zen stepped into her path and shook his head, reaching for her abdomen again. The female spun around him while swatting at his hand, and Nusa was surprised by such fluid movement from a seemingly simple creature.
"Oh you must be joking! I have a natural bodily function and I'm banned from dinner?" She pointed an accusing finger at the guard and her tone grew shrill. "It's your bodily functions that are causing problems, not mine!"
She spun on her heel and started down the wide steps, but turned back to the male with her hands on her hips. "What are you waiting for? Get down here!"
Nusa watched a tremor course through his frame at her demand. She briefly scented lust from his pores before it was masked, and wisely activated her air processor to protect her senses. Rha'zen hurried to join the human as she continued her descent into the city, nearly trembling from some unknown stimulus. The guard snorted in disbelief before quickly following them down. This should be interesting…if not messy.
She hurried down to the lead, not wanting the temple guards to think that the two interlopers were unescorted. The glare of waning sunlight glanced off of her mask for the familiar moment of blindness, but when her sights cleared Nusa froze. The human bumped into her back seconds before the hunter nearly knocked them all down, and she growled as she scanned the surrounding levels. Doors were opening in adjoining dwellings, and far too many curious onlookers were emerging to see their parade. The guard switched her respirator back to external air long enough to curse their bad luck. The human's scent was traveling on the moderate breeze, and the longer they remained exposed, the more females ventured outdoors to investigate. She turned to them and growled before restraining her anger.
"Move quickly. Keep the ooman between us."
Turning without waiting for a response, Nusa hurried down the wide steps as quickly as the human could keep up. A rumble was growing in the air that nudged uncomfortably at her instincts, and she forced her thoughts to the Matriarch. She will kill me! She will kill us all! Faster! The moment they reached the courtyard she broke into a run for the temple doors, but they skidded to a halt when a deafening roar erupted from the temple. Nusa stepped between the two 'guests' and grasped their elbows in a firm grip. Moments later the Matriarch exploded out of the double doors and surged toward them. The leader crossed the stone court in four running strides and nearly plowed into the human. She reached forward and snared the offending female by the throat, lifting her high off of the ground to roar in her face.
"You dare defy me?!" Her voice echoed from the surrounding stone.
Nusa flinched at the force of her tone, and her hesitation nearly allowed the hunter to bolt from her grasp. He lunged forward with flared tusks and an answering bellow in his chest, but the guard yanked him back and linked her arms around his elbows to hold him in place. His strength nearly threw her off balance, and she had no choice but to wrestle him to his knees.
The human kicked at her captor's arm and clawed at the fingers on her throat, but the Matriarch's grip would not be broken. Then she surprised everyone by reaching up with both legs, wrapping them around the limb that held her aloft. The raging leader flapped her arm in an attempt to shake her loose, but the human only tightened her grip. As she began to show signs of weakening from the lack of air, the frustrated Matriarch dropped her hand to dangle the female upside down. Her withering gaze bored into Nusa's mask as she opened her fingers.
"Release me, pest!"
The human Jes'ika immediately loosened her legs and dropped to the ground gasping for air. "You started it, bitch!"
Matriarch Qu'una's eyes widened and they burned into the unruly human's brown orbs. The two females appeared ready to fight, but then their guest broke the stand-off with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"You need to take a course in anger management. What right have you to manhandle me?"
The Matriarch's eyes blazed, but flicked over the human's head when Rha'zen struggled again in Nusa's grip. "Restrain him!"
"No!" Jes'ika stepped into her path. "You will release him this instant!"
"You would dare…"
The human stepped forward to stare up into her eyes. "Yes I would, after you choke the life out of me for no good reason! What the hell is wrong with you?"
The stalemate resumed and it appeared as thought the impetuous female would foolishly attack, but then the leader took a deep breath and stepped back. "Your stench is offensive! I expressly warned you not to…"
"Not to what? You told us to go nowhere unescorted. You told us that if he couldn't keep it in his pants, all bets were off! Where in your speech did you place any penalty on my bodily functions?" Her shrill tone deepened in her rage, fueling the Matriarch's fury.
"You mock me and feel no shame? I could crush you in one blow, insolent ooman!"
"And lose credibility with every witness?" Jes'ika waved a hand to indicate Rha'zen, the guard and the horde of curious onlookers streaming down from the surrounding city. "It is not my fault that your hormones have set off mine! It was you who insisted that we remain immersed in your 'fuck-me' pheromones! And now you have triggered my reproductive cycle. This is your fault, not mine!"
The human turned away taking heavy breaths while her fists clenched at her sides. She met the male's eyes, and Nusa felt another tremor run through him. The female turned to face the Matriarch, and her voice was much deeper in her rage. "And if you touch me again, I promise you will gain new understanding of the word 'pain'."
Matriarch Qu'una's tusks flared and she took a step forward, but before she could respond another voice silenced them all.
"Enough!"
They turned to see an Elder approach, much older than the Matriarch but not yet withered by age. She wore deep green robes over what appeared to be light armor, and as she walked they caught sight of a blade at her hip. When she reached the group she met the eyes of their guests before turning to the fuming leader.
"You forget about ooman females, Qu'una. Their systems are easily influenced by their environment. The weather, their diet, even other females can affect their cycles. You would avoid any conflict by simply confining them to their quarters."
Nusa watched as all eyes settled on the Matriarch. She snorted out several breaths as her eyes locked with the human's, but she seemed to be considering the old one's counsel. Just as her stance relaxed and her color began to fade to normal, a beep issued from her gauntlet.
"Matriarch, there is a message for you from the clan ship."
The regal female snarled. She spared the interlopers one more furious glance and then turned abruptly to march back into the temple. The moment the doors closed behind her, the old one's expression shifted into a wide grin.
"You are quite potent, ooman. Let us get you inside before you set off the entire complex."
She turned in a whirl of robes and they fell in line behind her, following along a narrow path toward the rear of the temple. They passed between two towering statues, resembling female warriors but weathered by time to faceless stone, and reached a secluded door that appeared like a servant's entrance. Nusa pushed their guests inside behind the old female and they entered a darkened corridor with unlit sconces along the walls. At the end they reached another door, which opened to reveal a very impatient Nasu.
"Move quickly before her scent carries!"
Their rescuer scoffed with a clattering of tusks and gestured to the human. "Nonsense. There is too much to see to make haste. Come here, ooman."
The small female shuffled forward warily, letting out a yelp when she was engulfed in the old one's flowing robes. Her aroma diminished drastically, and the Elder pulled her down the hall while describing carvings and tapestries that they passed. Nusa chittered behind her mask, a sound that was caught by the curious male. She leaned to the side and whispered quietly, ignoring a snarl from her twin.
"The Elder is rather fond of oomans, and the Matriarch does not like it."
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The Elder swept through the familiar corridors with practiced ease, her arm wrapped firmly around the human's shoulder as she described one carving after another. Occasionally the female would pull back at her robes to better see their surroundings, and the Yautja chittered in amusement at her curiosity. Her scent was overwhelming in such close proximity, but being past breeding age saved the aging huntress from being overly affected. How could her scent be so strong? I have scented ooman females in heat, but this is almost unnatural. Her memory wandered as they ascended to the imperial suites, recalling a chase through a facility for human bearers. Even the air around those females was not as saturated as this one. Perhaps something is wrong with her. I wish that I had the time to investigate.
They reached the assigned suite and she ushered the male inside, keeping the squirming female beneath her robes. A sharp nod to the guards instructed them to remain alert, and she closed the door as they took flanking positions. She took a cursory glance around the room and then released the human from her protective shroud.
"Here we are, safe at last!" Her pale yellow eyes shot up to several fixtures and she let out a quiet hiss. "Well…near enough."
She threw back the sleeve of her robes to reach her gauntlet, and as she entered codes to deactivate surveillance in the room noticed movement from their guests. Human and hunter, their attention traveling between her imposing presence and the rest of the room, were slowly backing toward each other. When they collided neither seemed startled, instead leaning closer together until they circled with backs to each other. Their heat combined in her vision into a bright flare, but the closer they stood, the calmer they seemed to become. When the sensors shut off with a faint beep, they turned to face her with unmasked distrust. The human's fingers curled until her knuckles touched the hunter's leg, and his talons slowly reached out to ghost lightly along her arm. The Elder's tusks twitched almost imperceptibly at the display and she let out a satisfied snort.
"There. That is much better."
She turned to face them and caught a spike in the female's scent – less from her cycle than from a restrained temper, and she was surprised when the male reached over to rest his hand at the back of her neck, his fingers applying gentle pressure that had an immediate calming effect on the feisty creature. The Elder involuntarily chirped at the sight, and when their eyes met he flushed. Quite comfortable together, I see.
The human stood rigid, poised like a cornered beast searching for escape, and when she spoke her voice trembled with the effort to remain calm. "Who are you?"
The Elder snorted and her eyes twinkled as she settled into the central cushions. "I am your savior, young one, such as it is. I am Senior Instructor and former Captain of the previous Matriarch's Royal Guard. You may call me Qu'tal."
A thrilling jolt raced up her spine when their eyes widened. She expected such a reaction from the male, but was surprised that the human had enough exposure to their culture to make the connection.
"Your name…you're…are you her…" She gestured to the door implying the Matriarch, and Qu'tal nodded.
"Yes, I am bearer, matron, or as you would say, 'mother' to Matriarch Qu'una." She grinned at their surprise and leaned forward with a chittering laugh, eager to see their reaction. "And you must be Kayla."
As anticipated, the female gasped at her statement and the strength left her legs. The male's hands shot to her arms and prevented her from crashing to the ground, but when he met the Elder's eyes he shared Kayla's confusion. Qu'tal's grinning tusks spread wider at catching him completely off guard.
"It is an honor, Firstborn. I daresay your little adventure has thoroughly disrupted the course of Yautja history. It is quite exciting to witness."
"Wait a minute!" Kayla shrugged out of his grip and shuffled forward on her knees. "How do you know us? What the hell is going on?"
Elder Qu'tal could not contain her elation, clapping her hands like an excited pup. "My third mate had quite the tale to tell. I did not believe it until I saw you both with my own eyes."
Her gaze left Kayla to focus on the Firstborn. She could see his mind working through the calm bronze of his eyes, and when they flared she knew he'd made the connection. "Your third…Mr'aal?"
The human's eyes darted to his before returning to Qu'tal. "Mr'aal?! No! He wouldn't betray us!"
She waved a dismissive hand and snorted lightly. "No, little one. He said nothing to me, but his First managed to squeeze the story out of him, and she was happy to tell me everything. What an adventure you have had. Such a pity now, after all that you have faced, to be stuck in such a predicament."
The human's scent flared again, laced with aggression and just a hint of fear that faded each time the hunter touched her. He dropped to his knees beside her and carefully moved his hands to her waist, appearing to restrain the female if not for the spike in his scent. Qu'tal noticed that the gesture seemed to calm her, but the fire in her eyes remained. The Elder wondered if he even noticed that he was purring, and the human's temperature flared and faded with its rhythm. Finally the Firstborn tore his gaze from his companion, and his voice pleaded for answers.
"Can you help us?"
The human flinched at his use of his native language, and Qu'tal smiled when his fingers squeezed. "He asked if I could help you, Kayla. Unfortunately the answer must be no."
"No!" Anger renewed her strength and the human lurched to her feet. "Then why bother announcing yourself? Why show us a door only to close it?"
Kh'aan grasped her arm to restrain the increasingly hostile human, but the Elder motioned her forward. "It was not my intention to mislead you. When I heard of the pure male and his strange ooman guardian, I knew immediately that it was you." She grasped Kayla's hands when she was within reach. "I would have already spirited you away by now if not for your rather hasty promise."
"What promise? I never…"
She pressed a claw to the female's mouth. "You insisted that you remain to repair your ship, and the Matriarch has granted your request. Now, for the sake of us all, you must complete that mission and leave of your own accord. If I removed you myself, every Yautja – male and female – would hunt you down."
A high chirp of inquiry escaped the male, too shrill for the human to hear, and moments later he voiced it in her language. "Why?"
Qu'tal smiled at him, though her voice held a hint of derision. "For one thing, you would have broken your oath to the Matriarch, which is punishable by death. Second, you would abandon Arbitrator Kh'val's ship to discovery and inspection, thereby revealing your identity and further trouncing the Matriarch's word."
The human scoffed with a hard snort. "Hey, if she lies that's on her."
The Elder bristled at her tone. "On the contrary, if it becomes known that you two were here and she did not detain you, our entire society could erupt." When Kayla snorted again she growled. "There is a chain of command in place for us, ooman. We do not simply roam around the universe at will. The High Elder answers to the Grand Matron, and she only to the Matriarch. If their integrity were questioned it would tear the Yautja apart."
She released the human's hands and patted the cushions, inviting them to sit. Kayla remained frozen, her features disbelieving, and only when the Firstborn touched her wrist did she react to the request. To Qu'tal's surprise, however, Kh'aan settled into the cushions and pulled the female down to his lap, establishing a defiant boundary around them by keeping her close. He met the Elder's eyes and issued a deep growl, as though challenging her to comment. For a moment Qu'tal was speechless, the magnitude of their bond hitting her like a fist. They are bound, perhaps not physically – not yet mated – but he has chosen her! He is not our Firstborn anymore. Her observations were interrupted by the female.
"So you're saying that we've made a gigantic mess of your society? That…I have?" Her voice was laced with regret, eliciting another purr from the hunter that made Qu'tal smile.
"No, young one. You have done nothing wrong, but the effect of your actions is something that the Yautja have never faced. They do not know how to deal with it, as you oomans say, and would most likely tear you and themselves apart to rectify it."
Aggression returned to the human's scent and she crossed her arms defiantly. "That's just ridiculous. Why so much fuss over us? Get over it and move on."
For a moment the Elder's good humor faltered and her words came out on a growl. "Because he is FIRSTBORN, you oblivious creature! Bred to lead our people, his status is the foundation of our culture. I understand that you both acted on honor, but through that simple adherence you have inadvertently uprooted our world. While Paya and Cetanu may smile upon you, the rest of Yautja society most likely will not."
The growl drew out into a snarl, and the frost in her gaze pushed the human back against Kh'aan's chest. "Know this…you must leave this place as quickly as possible. Forget your play acting and false bravado. Simply fix your ship and go, or I fear for your future." She took a deep breath to calm her rising temper, and then rose from the cushions feeling surprisingly fatigued. Her eyes passed over them to imprint the unusual pair in her mind, and then she stepped toward the door.
"It seems that you have impressed quite a few with your steadfast honor and unwavering loyalty to each other, but I fear that it will not be enough if you are discovered. I will do what I can to insure that you remain isolated during your stay, but I can promise no more."
As she tapped her gauntlet to reactivate the surveillance system, her glowing eyes met Kh'aan's. "I am proud of you, Firstborn. You have grown beyond the future you were raised for, and have embraced your true destiny without hesitation. It is a pity that our people will only see disgrace in your actions, rather than learn from them as they should. I only pray that you and your…friend…will find the sanctuary you seek before it is too late." An amused chitter escaped her throat as the sensors beeped.
"I like her."
Qu'tal slipped out of the room before either could respond, nearly colliding with one of the twins in her haste. Remembering their guests less-than-appropriate position, she backed up to the door and allowed her voice to bellow down the corridor, hoping that it would provide sufficient warning.
"I certainly hope that their meal has been prepared properly. We would not want to dishonor ourselves by mistreating our guests."
A growl and several human curses sounded through the door, and she politely stepped aside to let the guard pass. Paya, watch over them. Cetanu's regard is tremulous at best.
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Matriarch Qu'una stormed back into the temple growling under her breath. Her usually firm grasp on the outward expression of her emotions was weakening under so much strain, and she quietly cursed not killing them the moment they landed. Ages without disruption, generations without a single interloper, only to be bombarded by both in the height of mating season. At the door to the great hall she stopped, a shudder ruffling her stoic frame. The mid-season festival is days away. If I do not get rid of them that ooman will be the death of us all. But short of restraining her in an isolation tube or killing her – which the Firstborn would protest to his death – I can do nothing to keep it at bay. I have been near ooman females during their cycles, but their scents were never this strong. Realizing that the entry hall was no place for reflection, Qu'una turned to the right and chose the lengthier route to her offices. It may be everyone's last night of peace, and she did not want to disrupt Last Meal any more than she already had.
Though an enormous structure, the temple's layout was fairly simple. A single corridor ringed each level, containing smaller rooms on the exterior and one or two large chambers in the center. The first level housed the great hall, healer's ward and meeting chambers, as well as the Matriarch's private offices. The second level contained an enormous kehrite ringed by instruction chambers, while the third held the imperial suites. The uppermost levels contained the Matriarch's residence and chambers for her personal guard, and as she passed the stairs it took an effort to avoid retreating to her rooms. Paya grant me strength. I have never faced such a challenge as this. I could not have conceived of it, and yet it stares at me with such malice that I feel as though I should have foreseen it. She stopped in an alcove beneath a carved relief of the goddess, tusks flared and vanquished foe at her feet. Matriarch Qu'una took several calming breaths as she stared, and stepped out only when her hands ceased their trembling. They have come this far, survived this long against unknown odds and enemies. Cetanu should have their heads by now, and yet they live…they thrive. This is beyond my comprehension, and I know it is not my place to question the gods, but Paya help us…help me find a way out of this mess.
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She reached her office without incident, and once secured within took a moment to collect her thoughts. The message from the clan ship demanded immediate attention, and she had to approve the final parameters for the festival, but the Matriarch could not tear her thoughts from the Firstborn's companion. She had encountered a variety of human females in her life, from the weak and helpless to the deceptively dangerous, but 'Lady Jes'ika' was something new. She feigns such weakness, yet the intensity of it practically gives away the strength within. She risks their lives with this continued performance, but it is all in protection of him – I have never seen such devotion in any species. All the same, the ooman is right…he cannot be discovered by the populace. They must NEVER know that the Firstborn is here or they will tear him apart, and I will not be able to stop them. His only protection is that annoying, insignificant, infuriating creature!
The human's fierce guard of their most treasured hunter was the only thing that stopped Qu'una from smearing her across the courtyard. Resigned to ride the storm, she growled until her ribs ached and irritated an old 'impatience' injury. The reminder of her imperfection served its purpose, and she eased behind the desk to open a channel to the clan ship. The direct link was answered almost immediately and the Grand Matron's aide nodded respectfully through the feed.
"Honorable Matriarch, the Grand Matron is expecting your call. I will connect you now."
She inclined her head in acknowledgement and moments later met the weary features of Grand Matron Sh'aan. Qu'una's tusks twitched as she took in several fresh scratches on the diplomat's face, as well as the stone wall behind her instead of the tapestry in her chambers on the clan ship.
"Matriarch Qu'una, I thank you for your swift response. I am certain that you have your hands full with mating season and the upcoming festival, and will try not to take up too much of your time."
She nodded silently and Sh'aan continued. "We have received word that Matron Zheva is missing. She has not reported to any of her scheduled meetings, and as usual Elder Ne'hak is being less than cooperative."
Her eyes narrowed. "With all due respect, Grand Matron, why is this any concern of mine. I am extraordinarily busy at the moment as you are well aware, and furthermore you know that I…"
"I know how much you despise her, yes." Sh'aan's eyes twinkled through the feed. "It is for that reason that I am informing you of her disappearance. Without authorization codes or a flight plan, we have no way of knowing where she has gone. We could use the locator beacon on her ship, but she seems to have deactivated it. Her honor is in question for such negligence, and I fear that…never mind. I simply wanted to inform you."
The Grand Matron looked away, and Qu'una wondered if she was aware of the new arrivals. She chose ignorance for the moment and nodded respectfully to her sister leader. "I thank you for this information, Grand Matron. If Matron Zheva happens to grace us with her presence, I will be certain to inform you right away."
The Matriarch held Sh'aan's gaze until the Grand Matron ended the transmission, at which point her blood ran cold. She rose from the desk with a grunt, staring at the console for several minutes before she pounded a fist on the wooden surface. If she dares to come here I will KILL HER, and inform you once her corpse is nothing but ash.
She lost track of time staring at the fine grain of the desk, her mind lost in memories of hatred and betrayal, and was thoroughly startled when the chamber door opened without warning. She leapt across the desk in a graceful slide and charged through the cushions with a roar in her throat, but it died as Elder Qu'tal slipped into the room. Qu'una snarled at her bearer's unwelcome intrusion, but respectfully gestured to a seat. "Elder, what may I do for you?"
The aging female wore a crooked grin that surged discomfort down the Matriarch's spine. Qu'tal settled into the central cushions with an air of anticipation, and when she used her override to secure the room, the Matriarch could not hide her irritation.
"You have no authorization to…"
"Such a fascinating turn of events! Who would have thought that the gods would choose such a test of our fortitude, and at such a delicate time? This is most certainly their doing, is it not?"
"I do not know what you mean, Elder."
"Do not play games with me, Qu'una." Her bearer's eyes hardened for a heartbeat before amusement returned to her gaze. "You would have killed them by now if you were so ignorant."
"As I told Lady Jes'ika, I am nothing if not civilized. Why would I kill our guests? Simply because they are here?"
Qu'tal defied her age as she leapt from the cushions to stare into her eyes. "Because you know who he is, because you brought him into this world, and because it is sacrilege for him to be cavorting with an ooman female, that is why!"
The leader's anger changed to confusion. "You cannot mean that. You stopped me from harming the female. Why would you do that if you thought they should be punished?"
"I merely state the potential opinion of the populace, Qu'una, should they find out who he is." Her bearer sank back to the cushions and sighed. "Sit."
Weary and unwilling to argue, the Matriarch dropped in an undignified heap beside her. "I knew that it was Kh'aan the moment I smelled him, but her continued deception perplexes me. If she is his ally, she knows that we can detect lies, yet she persists in some foolish effort to distract attention from him."
The Elder snorted. "From her scent on him."
Qu'una growled and looked away, her claws digging into the cushions. "Yes. It is subtle, not a mark of mating but of frequent proximity. It is disgusting to say the least."
"Relax yourself," the elder chastised. "He remains pure."
"For now," she snarled. "But his intentions are quite clear."
Qu'tal chuckled. "And this bothers you?"
"Of course it does!" she nearly shouted. "He is Yautja, destined to lead us as High Elder! His chosen resides within these very walls! I should eliminate that insolent ooman and put him where he belongs!"
Qu'tal's eyes closed and her tusks drooped in disappointment. "You are blinded, Matriarch. As far as I have been able to determine, he is already with his chosen and will never desire another…not now, not ever."
"And you can simply accept that?"
"Yes, I can," she replied with a snort and nod of defiance. "It is clear to me that the Firstborn is no more; that he has died and Kh'aan has finally been born. He discovered the choices he was never supposed to have thanks to that ooman, and I doubt that he would give up his newfound freedom so easily."
Qu'una rose to her feet fuming. "And what of us? Are we supposed to simply move on without an heir? What of Ja'zin? Her lifetime of training wasted? All because of Kh'aan's childish curiosity?"
"It was not curiosity, Qu'una, it was honor. Honor that has been drilled into him since birth; it is all that he has ever known. He may defy his kind, but he will not defy the judgment of Cetanu."
The Matriarch marched over to the open window, a gust of wind ruffling her tresses. She fumed at the Firstborn's foolish fascination with the ooman, yet could not deny the facts. "She is protecting him. This entire performance is solely to hide his identity from us. I can tell that she desires him as well, yet has not attempted to claim him. It makes no sense. Any Yautja female would have…"
"She is not Yautja, and you still do not understand oomans. You know of them, have studied them for the hunt, but your disdain keeps you from seeing them."
Qu'una turned to face her matron, her hands settling defiantly on her hips. "And what is it that I am missing?"
A twinkle lit Qu'tal's eyes and the Matriarch had to quell a groan at her enthusiasm. "Oomans do not stifle their emotions as we do. They are fueled by them, and their depth is an unfathomable, ever-changing labyrinth. Her concern and care for him fuel her will and determination. She desires him, but respects their differences enough to resist it. I noticed immediately the way that she analyzed everyone, tracking their assessments of him as well as his reactions. It would not surprise me if she has tried to convince him to choose his own…but her words would be futile. He is bound to her and will have no other. Of this I am certain."
"He would shun his own kind to mate with filth." The Matriarch sank to the cushions, her scent telling of the sense of defeat flowing through her veins. "I suppose that my only option is to do nothing…allow them to repair their ship and leave?"
"Yes, and keep them as isolated as possible."
"You saw the courtyard; everyone knows of our strange guests. How can I hide them?"
The Elder rose gracefully and glided to the door. "You are not stupid, Qu'una. Simply keep them away from everyone. Allow them to travel when our people are occupied, such as during meals. Let none but their guards interact with them, and for Paya's sake…keep them away from the festival!" She shuddered in the doorway and turned back with caution in her gaze.
"As you know, I have been summoned to Vicendu to assist with Matron Mi'hai's duties. I will not be here to assist you if things go wrong. Do not forget yourself, Matriarch. You were not destined from birth like the others; you overcame trials that few have survived to achieve your status. Do not let this situation undermine your will."
Once the door closed Qu'una fell forward to sprawl across the cushions, an undignified position for the Matriarch, but for once she did not care. She rolled to her back and stared at the carved ceiling, watching the reflection of braziers from outside dance across the glyphs. After spending hours immobile and disgruntled, she heaved to her feet and hurried to the imperial suites. I will not have our lives destroyed by this. They will obey my rule or they will die."
She reached their assigned suite and pushed past the dozing twins, entering unannounced in the hope of catching them off guard. Instead she nearly tripped over the Firstborn, who was sprawled in front of the door like an enormous guardhound. Her chirp of surprise awoke them, and the human once again defied her pathetic performance as she leapt to her feet, balance sure, eyes steeled and wielding a decorative vase in her hands. The male rolled upright to block the door, and the Matriarch caught a glimpse of the unit they were becoming. She reigned in her emotions and nodded an apology as she took a step back. When they converged to block her escape route she was surprised to feel vulnerable, but after a shared glance the two settled down. The hunter stepped back into his usual position of deference, and the human lowered her weapon.
"Must I ask again? What the HELL is wrong with you? Are we not allowed to sleep either?" Her voice shook with the effort to maintain its shrill volume, and Qu'una could see that the warrior within her eyes was poised to attack if necessary. If you were not protecting him I would destroy you.
"Due to your condition, you will not be joining us for meals and disturbing us with your odor. You will eat in the confines of this suite, and be escorted to and from your ship while the majority of our citizens are occupied with their meals. This will minimize their exposure to you." She cast a glare upon the male. "I would not wish to tempt your 'ward' from his debt, nor allow you to incite a riot among the populace."
The human snorted. "As I said before, you did this to yourself. We could have simply stayed on our ship out of the way…your guards could stand watch in the field. This disruption is your fault, not ours."
Qu'una snarled and stepped toward the infuriating pest but was blocked by her companion. Though far smaller than the imposing Matriarch, he showed no fear in facing her, and the regal female snorted in amusement as she stepped back. She nodded while stepping around them to the door, and once in its frame turned to meet their furious eyes.
"I have changed my mind. Should you fail to adhere to my rules, you will watch, ooman, as the full extent of the season is unleashed upon your ward. Then I will skin and eat you, alive."
She stepped out of the door fuming, but as it clamped shut she heard a sharp retort from the human.
"BITCH!"
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