Author's Note: Okay, clearly again, I'm making up mating ritual stuff and traditions as I go, and since this is an alien species that lives in clans that are separate communities from each other what might be law in one clan is not necessarily the same in another, this is my excuse for any inaccuracies that might come up.
Warning: Lex's POV, violence, language, Lex/Scar
Disclaimer: If its cannon it's not mine, if it isn't, it belongs to me.
Haven
"Nuh-uh! No way!" Lex protested as the Elders led her to the Kehrite so she would have the best possible view of the fight, "I won't let you do this!"
"It is the law." Wrath said, not looking at her.
"I don't care!" Lex shouted, "I'm not one of you! I shouldn't have to follow your laws of mating!"
Crusade snapped at her, "Ooman, you became one of use when you accepted your place in the clan after the defeat to the Tik-Pyak! Like it or not, you now must obey all our laws and traditions!"
"I'm not ready to get involved in a relationship!"
The third Elder placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "There is nothing that can be done accept pray that Sckeahr wins. Dahrt is a fool to rush into mating so soon after becoming a warrior, Sckeahr is not ready for what will happen afterwards either, but at least if he wins, you and Sckeahr will have all the time you need to work this out."
"But Javelin!" Lex protested again grabbing his arms, "What if Scar doesn't win?"
Javelin shook his arm free, but did not answer.
"I won't!" She shouted stopping in her track.
Wrath turned around and picked her up with ease. He didn't appreciate the fuss the Ooman warrior was making, and most certainly didn't like being beat with her fist and feet as he carried her, but Wrath tried to be understanding. This was not how her culture approached mating, he supposed if he were to go through one of her mating rituals he would not be happy either.
At last they reached the Kehrite, and though Lex continued to argue against this, the fight was ready to start. Crowds of Yautja had gathered to watch the fight, and Lex could hear bits of conversation moving through them, questioning what was going on in the minds of the two Youngbloods that were fighting for the Ooman, mutters of who they thought should win and even a few jokes about challenging the winner. At least Lex hoped they were jokes.
Dart entered the Kehrite first, none of the warriors had worn their armor since the visit to the home of the Deathworm, but now the two suitors donned specially made armor with freshly sharpened weapons. Dart gave a vicious roar to the crowd, flaring his mandibles as far as he could. He clicked a button on his combi-stick, opening it to its full length and twirling in before him before slamming it into the ground with a loud thwank!
Lex looked away from him to the other entrance where Scar soon appeared. He too roared for the crowd, and looked around for Lex. Their eyes met, Scar gave her a nod and ripped out his Ki-its-pa, twirling it the way Dart had and ramming it into the ground as well. The two warriors looked to each other and snarled challenges waiting for the Elders to give the signal to begin.
Lex kept her eye on Scar. She loved him, she knew that, but knowing you loved someone and being ready for the next step in a relationship were not the same thing. If Scar won, there was no way Lex was ready to deepen the relationship they already had. They were of entirely different species, it would never be easy to, but because of Dart now they would be forced to if Scar won.
Lex didn't want to think about what would happen if Dart won.
Dart and Scar started circling each other; each pressed another button which sparked eclectic currents in the ends of their weapons to life. Crusade, Javelin, and Wrath exchanged looks. It was the law that the two Youngbloods fight to the death for Lex, but none of them approved of this. No one was ready for it.
But at last the Elders started to growl and roar, giving the signal for the fight to begin. At first neither Dart nor Scar moved. They were waiting for the other to make the first move. They rushed at the same time, knocking the shafts of the spears together. Scar pushed forward, forcing Dart back a step before the other Yautja pushed back. Scar jumped backwards, making Dart stumbled forward. The chief's son lashed out with his Ki-its-pa, hitting his rival in the chest, but knocking him back into balance. Dart let go of his combi-stick with one hand and reached for the blade at his side.
He swiped it out in an arch, catching Scar across the abdomen. Scar roared in pain, stepping back and checking his wound. The cut was not deep, but still florescent green liquid dripped from the wound. Dart had made the first blood! It was said that was good luck, and a sign that the one who had made the attack was sure to win.
Scar wouldn't let that happen!
He knocked Dart back with his Ki-its-pa again and grabbed his shuriken from his hip and threw it at him with amazing accuracy. Dart, already blown back, was struck in the right shoulder with the weapon, and pinned him to the wall of the Kehrite. Roaring in pain, Dart dropped his Combi-stick. Scar grabbed his dagger, and approached Dart, dropping his Ki-its-pa as he went, hoping to make a nice clean kill.
Unfortunately Dart was strong enough to tear the weapon from his shoulder. The shuriken dropped to the ground and Dart dived down, rolling past Scar and coming up behind him and kicking Scar behind the knees, knocking him to the ground. Dart's right arm hung uselessly at his side. With his dominate limb injured Dart now had a disadvantage.
Scar got back up and was met in the face with Dart's left fist. The blow was relatively weaker that it would have been if Dart had been able to use his right, but still enough to make the room spin for a moment. Long enough that when Scar was able to focus again Dart had grabbed his blade again and was coming closer for the kill. Scar had only a moment to duck, and stabbed Dart in the side as he rolled away. Dart snarled and chased after him.
Dart leapt on top of Scar. The Yautja wrested on the ground, each trying to knock his opponent's blade out of the other's hand. Simultaneously both went flying across the Kehrite. On top, Dart gave a triumphant roar and pounded Scar's face again.
"Scar!" Lex cried. She leaned forward over the railing, almost as if she were about to climb over and rush to help. Crusade pulled her back.
Javelin tapped her shoulder, and beckoned her to him, "Lhrueckz." He said, "You would prefer to be with Scar, yes?"
She nodded, "I don't want to risk watching him die…" She whispered, and then added, "But I don't want to him to kill Dart either, it's not fair that someone has to die in order to 'impress' me into being their mate."
"Yautja women want the strongest to be their mates. It has always been that way, a female will mate with whichever male interested in her proves himself the strongest. However…" He nodded to her, "You are not a Yautja woman. You are a warrior."
Crusade and Wrath turned around when they heard that, "What are you saying?" Wrath asked.
"When Lhrueckz became part of the clan, she did not join the females, she became a warrior, and as such, I believe she should not have to follow the woman's part in the mating." Javelin explained, "She is a warrior, she has the right to pick a female to court-or in this case, a male." He finished with a trill.
"So you're saying…" Lex mused.
Crusade pushed her forward, "Go, defend your right."
Lex ran back to the railing. Scar grabbed Dart's arm, knocking the other Yautja off balance again and rolled to the side, effectively flipping him over onto his back where he took up the beating. Lex turned back to the elders. "Thank you." She said, and jumped into the Kehrite.
Dart punched Scar in the stomach and tried to crawl away, both males were tiring, but neither wanted to give in. They were better than that. Scar snarled and grabbed Dart's ankle, dragging him back, only to get kicked in the chest and fell back to the ground. Both tried to stand, but Dart slipped again, and Scar could only get to his knees. Scar crawled back to Dart and raised his fist to strike again, but something stopped him. He turned his head. Lex held his wrist, preventing him from delivering the blow.
"That's enough." Lex whispered, and then turned to Dart and the crowd. "I am a warrior!" She shouted, loud and clear to the few who could understand English, behind her Javelin translated for those who could not, "I reserve my right to court any male I wish." She helped Scar get to his feet.
"Lehkz…" He growled painfully.
She looked him in the eye, "I choose Scar." She declared, then looked down at Dart still on the ground and smiled slightly, "Sorry, better luck next time buddy."
Yautja roared, some in congratulations others in fury. Dodge, Burn, and Scar's brothers rushed into the Kehrite followed even by Strike all of them congratulating Scar and Lex. Strike took a moment to shake Lex's shoulder in gratitude. "I never got to thank you." He explained nodding to Tool who was rushing to help Dart up.
Lex smiled, "No problem." She said.
"Nwo problem." Strike repeated, nodding and shaking her shoulder again before going to back to help Tool and Thug with Dart.
Scar took Lex's hand in his and pulled her to his chest. He was breathing heavily, but Dodge looked him over and announced he didn't appear to have any serious injuries. "He should check into medical anyway, just in case…" Dodge continued.
Scar nodded, Lex wrapped her arm around his waist and smiled. While the group continued to congratulate Lex and Scar, Dart snarled and waved off the three Yautja trying to help him and limped off to the exit, looking back only once at his rival the ooman warrior who would soon be his mate, his eyes burned with pure hatred.
Author's note: I hope you find that satisfying, my editor and I are worn-out after school this week, and I hurt myself in ju-jitsu yesterday so I didn't sleep well either. Please review and tell me what you thought!