Emma ran into Lorik, Anun'den and Shun'ji the moment she was about to cross the door of the control room. She greeted them in passing then headed towards the bridge. She said as soon as she saw Ter'kan from the back, standing near the pilot post: 'Welcome back, handsome leader!'

The leader turned around and greeted her: 'Hi lovely! It's so good to see you again.' He then picked her up off the ground. She added as she wrapped her arms around his neck: 'I didn't expect you'd be gone for so long.'

He slowly began to stroke her back: 'I had important duties to deal with! This brought me back to Yautja Prime unexpectedly.'

She whispered with her eyes shut: 'I was yearning for your strong arms to hold me again.'

He added after having inhaled the scent of her shoulder: 'I missed all of you, love.'

A silence followed. They cuddled like this until a group of five hunters entered the control room. He had to put her down. So she said after having glanced at the group: 'Join me in our quarters as soon as you will finish your meeting.'

The leader nodded in agreement. Emma gave him a tender look then went away. A little while later she was delighted to set foot again in her quarters on board the clan's ship. She looked around the bedroom with a smile before entering the bathing room. She stayed in there, seated on the sculpted, wooden table until the hissing sound of the sliding doors came from the main entrance. She went out in a hurry and found Ter'kan standing near the bed, wearing his loin cloth only. She approached him with a smile, saying: 'Finally! Just the two of us!',/p.

He took her hands and sat with her. He emitted a trill and was about to tell her, in turn, a word of love but the expression of his face changed as soon as he noticed the fainted scars she had in the palm of her right hand. He widened his eyes and slightly flared his mandibles. He analyzed the scars for another short moment before asking: 'What are these scars? How did you get them?'

Emma sighed. She began to give explanation lowering her gaze: 'I had an accident quite a long time ago! It happened when Alrik'taden and I had a talk in one of the weapons rooms. hen it came a moment when I looked around while Alrik'taden kept checking his gear with his back turned on me! I saw a display of disc-like things that caught my attention so I took one in order to have a better look. As my curiosity grew bigger I pushed one of the buttons situated in the middle of it! Four blades unfolded instantly and cut my hand. Pain and fear took over me after that.'

He growled in order to express his growing annoyance. He then examined her hand once more before saying: 'My son made a mistake. And that's bad enough! So he let you roaming around a place full of dangerous and advanced weaponry without any warning and surveillance!'

Emma said as she looked into the leader's golden amber eyes: 'I also had my share of mistakes. I shouldn't have touched weapons that looked unknown and complicated to me.' She kissed the palm of his right hand then requested in a soft tone: 'Could we talk about this matter later? Now I'd like to enjoy my time with you.' She began to brush her hands against his biceps slowly. The leader let himself being touched for a while before he stood up and stripped naked. He then sat back on the bed and pulled her between his thighs. He began to provide her with caresses. Soon it triggered a different conversation just as he was taking her mini-dress off. This time he emitted a growl louder than the previous one. He asked while slowly brushing his thumbs on the red-blueish bruises that were marking the skin around her waist: 'Emma! Lovely! Now your are going to tell me how you got these!

She didn't respond. So the leader took her face between his hands thus forcing her to look into his eyes. He insisted angrily which made his deep voice even scarier: 'Tell me! How did you get these?'

Emma sighed again as sadness appeared in her eyes. She said with an hesitating tone: 'It...it was...Alrik'taden! He...'

She stopped. He asked while twitching his upper mandibles and eyeing her with obvious uneasiness: 'What did he do?'

Emma went on as she took his hand in hers: 'First I had great time with him. And then It didn't take him long until he began to show me the darker side of his personality. He was behaving in that naughty way we had talked about prior to our arrival on the mother ship. I remember one day we decided to visit the fruits reserve. I became instantly charmed by the place so I told him I wouldn't mind, spending the night in there. I said so without knowing that my words have just given him ideas. So he sneaked out and locked me in the fruits reserve. Luckily two males visited the place a while later and I was able to get out. I bumped into him on the way back to my room. Of course I didn't hesitate to express my annoyance but he didn't seem to care. I thought that was mean.' She paused for a few seconds before she continued: 'But that wasn't all. I had to experience his other naughty tricks as well! For instance he enjoyed making me jump with fright or participate in exhausting activities so he could take advantage of me. Sometimes he was also talking in a disturbing way. There is something he told me once, when we had our meals together and since I've never been able to forget it. He said that his trophies room will always look empty without me. Upon further reflection, I concluded that he was talking about having my skull among his other trophies. Really! I expected him to act wickedly but no to talk in a creepy way.'

Ter'kan said as he gently squeezed her hand gently: 'I warned you about the dark side of his personality.'

Emma kissed one of his lower mandibles in order to show him affection then added: 'And then gradually another change began to occur. He stopped being annoying and rather became intrusive. He began to seek my company constantly! He loved having intimate conversations in remote areas of the mother ship. Soon I realized that his new behavior was due to the fact that his feelings towards me were changing. I understood that he wanted to have a more intimate relationship with me. As for me I've tried to suppress my new feelings as much as I could. And then one day some circumstances brought us closer. This triggered a new acceptance for me. And that's how I accepted to have sex with him. Unfortunately it didn't go well.'

The leader asked as he squeezed her hand again: 'What did it happen?'

Emma sighed: 'He invited me in his room after the training! We started to talk about interesting matters including the training. He soon changed his behavior and made me understand that he wanted more than just a talk. I must admit that I was also enjoying the whole situation. And then after a brief moment of hesitation I finally hugged him. That's we began to caress each other. We did it until we felt the need for more. So he began to make love to me. At the beginning it was pleasant but then things turned nasty from the moment he speed up his thrusts. I didn't like it so I asked him to slow down. He ignored my complaint and just kept thrusting. Gradually it became more painful. So I asked him again with an angrier voice to stop but he kept ignoring me. On the contrary he changed his position. He then grabbed a hold of my waist with both his hands and continued thrusting. From then on the situation became even worse. The more he was thrusting fast the more he was tightening his grip too. He was tightening his grip to a point that the claws of his thumbs started sinking into my flesh, menacing to make me bleed at any moment. He did it until he finished. He released his grasp immediately after. So I took the opportunity to ran away. I began to cry as soon as I was in my room. I cried for a long moment because I was scared and in pain.'

The leader stared at her for a few seconds. He then concluded with annoyance in the tone of his voice as he shook his head in disbelief: 'hat's bad! That's really bad he dared to behave with you like this! I will have a word with him about all this.'

By now Ter'kan and Emma completely lost the desire to make love due to the conversation they just had. So they got dressed and returned to the control room. They found Shun'ji sitting alone at the pilot posts. The leader addressed him a few words before exiting the place again with Emma walking by his side. They saw Alrik'taden going up the ramp just as they were coming out onto the place that led to the exit of the ship. The leader went to meet his son whereas Emma stayed behind and watched the scene. The two males engaged into a conversation. Emma couldn't understand them verbally but according to the sound of their voices and their body language she knew that they were having an argue. Suddenly the leader flared his mandibles and emitted a growl. Emma looked at him, biting her lips anxiously because he was obviously getting angrier. He emitted another growl then waved at her: 'Emma! Come!'

She approached the males as uneasiness took over her. Exactly at the same moment, as fate would have it, Seki'sen got back to the ship. The leader continued giving his son a serious reprimand by showing Emma's hand and the bruises around her waist at the same time. The second in command slowed down his pace in order to listen what the leader was telling his son. Emma saw him glaring at Alrik'taden for a brief moment before he moved away.

The young male kept listening to his father for another little while. He then protested with one last violent hand gesture before exiting the ship. Emma questioned Ter'kan about the conversation: 'What did you tell him?'

The leader responded with anger in the tone of his deep voice: 'I told him many things. But most importantly I told him to stay away from you and to not try anything nasty again. He brought great embarrassment upon me and I should punish him for that.'

Emma asked while slightly raising her eyebrows: 'Punish him?'

'Yes, I should punish him. His wicked and rebellious nature would take a well deserved hit.'

They left the ship in a hurry because the leader wished to see his father again. Emma had a wonderful time because nothing was more rewarding than having a conversation with both males at the same time.

Fourteenth month. Fifth day of the first week.

Emma and Ter'kan were in one of the weapons room on board their ship. They were checking and cleaning various weaponry while exchanging words about certain of their comrades and their past 's when Emma spoke about Mar'ten too: 'By the way, I found strange that I didn't meet Mar'ten since you came back .Where is he?'

The leader ceased working on his weapon and turned towards her. He stared a her for a few seconds, keeping his mandibles tightly closed before saying: 'Mar'ten is not with us anymore.'

She asked as worry appeared in her eyes: 'Why he isn't with us anymore? Where did he...'

He didn't let her finish her question so he blurted out: 'Mar'ten is dead!'

Emma simply asked, looking more sad than worried: 'What?'

Ter'kan went on: 'It was during his hunting party that took place on a planet situated not far from Yautja Prime. He got badly injured before he made his kill. And then there was another attack that took him completely by surprise. He had been unable to strike fast and accurately enough in order to defend himself due to his injuries.'

She sighed as she lowered her gaze. She then asked: 'Where is he now?

'He's kept in a special room near the medical bay!'

'Can I see him?'

'Yes, of course!'

Emma put her weapon down on the table and left the room with Ter'kan walking by her side. The leader said as soon as they arrived in front of closed doors situated nearby the medical bay: 'He's in there!' He then pushed two buttons and the doors slide opened. He entered the place followed by his mate. It was a large and white room equipped with machinery that Emma was seeing for the very first time. Three huge and rectangular, glass containers with lids made of the same material were set into the room. Mar'ten's naked body was lying in one of them, covered with a white sheet from his knees up to his torso.

Emma approached the container. She asked while looking at Mar'ten's shut eyes: 'When did it happen? What is this container for? What is inside?'

He answered after having glanced at Mar'ten's remains: 'Five days ago! Yautja time! This container has a mix of cold air with special gases in order to prevent decomposition and keep his body presentable for the funerals.'

Emma added as she kept looking at Mar'ten's shut eyes: 'It preserves him really well! He doesn't look dead at all. He looks as if he's just sleeping.'

Suddenly the sound of footsteps resounded in the corridor. It was getting louder and closer until it stopped completely. Ter'kan and Emma turned around and saw Rak'nar standing in the doorway. The hunter addressed his leader which gave Emma the opportunity to examine him in details. The right part of his face was badly wounded. This awoke angrier and more anxious feelings deep inside her. She glanced at Mar'ten remains one more time then ran away.

Ter'kan became puzzled by her attitude so he went to look for her as soon as his conversation with Rak'nar was over. He found her in their bedroom, curled on the bed and crying. He sat next to her and let her crying for a short moment before he spoke while slowly caressing her back: 'It seems you have more difficulties for getting used to your new life. He then took her hand in his: 'We need to talk! This will give you more emotional endurance.'

Emma looked at him, sighing.

He continued: 'You know how much hunting means to males of my species! Rank and reputation are built according to fighting and hunting skills but also to ways the code of honor is followed. Over the years each individual will have to prove himself by hunting as much as possible and collecting trophies. As he ages, his knowledge will broaden and his hunting skills will improve as well. He will start to go after increasingly dangerous preys thus making each hunting party more perilous too. Knowing that it will make him more and more worthy into the eyes of the clean society. His rank and honor will increase. This continues even after his death. He will never be forgotten and his exploits will always be remembered.'

By now her crying fit has already subsided. She made her beautiful remark after another sigh: 'Sure I will always remember Mar'ten not only for his exploits but also for his personality! You know how much he meant to me. He was like a brother. He had always encouraged me with the most appropriate words and help. I will truly miss him.' She paused for a few seconds before adding with such a grief in the tone of her voice that a new crying fit seemed imminent: 'I'm wondering what were his thoughts just the moment before he died?''

Ter'kan said as he put his other hand on her right shoulder: 'We will never know!'

From then on they kept talking about Mar'ten , raking up the past moments they had with him.

In the course of the following week different matters took place. First Emma demanded permission to visit the room in which Mar'ten's remains were kept. She felt the need to see him like this before the permanent and imminent separation. She felt the need to look at Mar'ten's eyes shut forever for the eternal rest.

Alrik'taden became her other concern because he stubbornly continued pursuing her in spite of his father's objection. The young male was lurking in places where he knew he would be more likely to meet her. His insistent approach towards her had become so evident that Seki'sen soon became aware of things. Emma often caught the two males having conversations while looking at each other with their backs arched and mandibles flared. She knew that was the most evident proof of their hostility towards each other.