Chapter 21: Ready for Battle
This darkness of the night blanketed over the land but Maria and Za'taan curled together in a small nook beside a large tree. After the incident with Juan, Maria refused to return to camp, shame at what she had done. She tried to make excuses for why she had to kill Juan and she admitted to herself that it was right in some ways. But to take a human life with your own hands . . . Maria had a hard time accepting it.
Za'taan honored her wish by staying in this spot for hours at hand. Maria let out horrible cries into Za'taan's chest and held him tightly to the point that her fingers were going numb. All she could focus on was his voice and hear how many times that it wasn't her fault and that it was right for her to kill Juan.
He kept rubbing his hands all over her back to get her to calm down, purring as well and Maria relished in it.
"I told you. You had every right to do what you had to do."
Maria sniffed a bit, rubbing her forearm in her face to wipe the tears from her had to swallow a few times since her throat was too dry for her to speak.
"But . . . he's still a living being. I've never killed anyone in my entire life. And now . . . now . . ."
She tried her best to hold her feelings back, trying to close her eyes in an attempt to keep her tears at bay. Her lips were sealed tight so she had to breathe through her nose until she believed she was strong enough to continue.
"I'm a murderer. No matter how people see it . . . I took his life with my own hands. What do I do now?"
She pressed her face back into Za'taan's chest, quietly letting her tears fall from her eyes again. She felt Za'taan wrap his arms around her more tightly than ever. She wished that the recent moments she had would disappear or that it was just another nightmare. But she wasn't fortunate to have such a luxury. She realizes that it has been done and that she needs to move on. She lifts her head up so her eyes met Za'taan's burning red eyes. It almost was like staring into the sun, bright and true to its nature. She almost lost it once more.
However, Za'taan makes a move and lowers his head until their foreheads meet. They stared at each other for a while until he speaks.
"You're not a murderer. Someone like that only kills cause they want to. You did it to protect me and that is nothing to be ashamed about. To kill in order to protect is not a dishonorable thing. Trust me."
Maria just keeps staring at him but eventually closes her eyes and starts to take deep, slow breaths to calm her wild heart. Somehow, Za'taan can make it so that anything wasn't as bad as it seems. Although there were times that she questioned it like when he got injured, everything turned out alright. With that, her mind began to settle and her heartbeat was finally slowing down. After some time, she leans back and opens her eyes to see Za'taan.
"Thank you."
She tried to smile even though she knows her cheeks were completely covered in wet tears but it was enough as Za'taan leans down and presses his inner mouth onto her lips.
No matter how many times they do it, Maria's body would always jolt when they kissed. It was like he was a spark and every time she touched him, she would get shocked in a good way. It was wonderful.
She returns his kiss by pressing back into him and lets her hands trace up from his arms and rests them on his powerful shoulders, feeling the smooth texture of his unusual skin under them. Then, Za'taan moves his hands over her back, rubbing them softly as they kept continuing.
She wants him. Right here and now and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Her body was moving on its own and it frightened her a bit but after they kissed more, she just gave in to her desires. She brings her hands down across his back and goes at a slow pace until her fingers glide over the top of his belt. Za'taan senses this and moves his head away from her, a little stunned as to what she was doing.
They didn't say anything to each other but she gives him a look of desire, letting him know that she wants him. She saw a little hesitation in his eyes and she began having second thoughts. But when she was about to let go of him, Za'taan also moves his hand until they reached for the bottom of her shirt, slightly lifting it up until his hands went underneath, tracing over her skin.
Maria moans at the sudden touch from him, lifting her head into the sky and falling under his spell. She feels Za'taan lean down his head until his mouth meets her exposed shoulder, which she couldn't recall when he pushed her shirt to the side. But she lost all train of thought when his tongue glides over her shoulder, leaving the wetness of his saliva on her. She moans again and grips the back of his belt even tighter, feeling his mandibles twitch ever so often on the side of her back and collarbone.
But just as they were about to go further, a beeping noise starts up from Za'taan's wrist gauntlet, making Za'taan groan in frustration and Maria couldn't help but giggle a bit. But when he releases her and presses some things on it, Maria sees his face twist into a look of shock and horror and that is when panic started to set in. She knew that if Za'taan looked like that, it must be pretty bad.
"Za'taan? What's wrong?"
"I have to go back to the camp, Maria. I'm taking you somewhere safe."
He didn't give time for her to respond as he picked her up until she was on her own two feet and began to put his mask back on his face. Maria had no idea what was going on but she definitely wanted to find out, whether he wanted to tell her or not. She acted quickly when he was turning around while dragging Maria from her wrist with one of his hands.
"Za'taan! What the fuck is going on!?"
She ripped away from him and Za'taan whips around to face her and growls but she notices that the sound he made wasn't out of anger but was more on the worried side instead. She couldn't tell what he was thinking with his mask on but his posture showed he was nervous about telling her. The anger inside Maria was rising and she couldn't hold it in.
"Za'taan!"
In a shocking twist, his whole body jumps a little as if she shocked him with a taser gun or something. She stopped in her tracks a bit from watching him do that but she was determined to know what he's hiding. After a while, Za'taan tells her before she can yell at him again.
"The kainde amedha are close by the camp so I fear they might attack soon."
Maria was stunned to hear something like that. If the kainde amedha are close by Ana and her mother, why wouldn't he tell her? It doesn't make sense at all! Maria was fuming at this point, rage had taken complete control and she screamed at him.
"Why didn't you just tell me?! We have to get back now!"
She stomps forward and almost passes Za'taan until he grabs her arm tightly, making sure she couldn't move any further than just past his side. Maria turns around and fights to break free but he was simply too strong for her. If physical strength didn't do the trick, then she would use her words as weapons.
"Let me go!"
But he didn't budge. Za'taan was like a solid rock but regardless, Maria fought him with all of her might, doing whatever she can to slip away from him. All she wanted was to get back to camp and find Ana and her mother. There was no option for her. She was about to scream one more time until he calls to her.
"I can't let you go."
That stopped Maria dead in her tracks and stared at his mask. The tone of his voice resonated with fear and worry. It was unlike him. That got her head to start thinking about what was happening back at camp. It must be serious if Za'taan was worried a lot. But she didn't have time to listen to his excuses and when she noticed his grip on her arm loosened, she slips herself out of his grip and bolts towards camp.
"Maria!"
She ignores Za'taan's call, trying her best to not turn around as she runs with all of her might to get back as soon as possible. Ignoring the scratches from the bushes and branches of trees, she pushes on and tries to move her legs faster but they were failing her too. She summons all of her strength and goes faster. Her heart pounding strong and her breathing became labored and she tries to get as much air in her lungs as possible.
Finally, she can see a light from the fire peeking out through the many trees and Maria felt somewhat relieved that she was almost there. She takes her spear from her back and extends it, expecting that the kainde amedha had reached the camp. And when she made it to the edge and hid behind a bush, she was right.
The whole camp was completely surrounded by black creatures. About a dozen of them crawled around the area and rummaged through the items that were still there. She observed how some of them were sniffing around as if trying to find something to eat. But Maria turned her attention to something else. Where were Ana and her mother?
She didn't see any of them around so she was struggling to know if they were taken somewhere or were hiding nearby. Maria hoped for the latter one.
But then, she heard a rustling of leaves across the camp but it was faint. The kainde amedha looked up in the direction and Maria did the same. But to her horror, she saw something come out of the tree line that caused her body to shiver with fright. It was a sight that she didn't think she would ever see in her life.
A huge, black creature steps into the camp and is ten times larger than any kainde amedha she had ever seen but this one was different.
It had the standard black skin along with huge legs and tail to go along with it. However, she noticed that it had another set of arms that were smaller than the main ones but had deadly claws as well and it's back was covered with many bigger spikes than the smaller kainde amedha. The head was also different. Instead of a dome shape like the others, this creature had like some sort of crown that stretched beyond its head and over like a shield or something.
Maria could only think about how huge and different it was and she wondered if it was something else.
All of a sudden, a huge hand had grabbed her on the shoulder and out of reaction, Maria whips around and swings her spear at the unknown figure that was behind, ready to cut it down without hesitation. But just as she looked during her swing, she stops abruptly when she noticed it was Za'taan.
"Za'taan?"
She whispers and he nods in response. She looks back a bit and was relieved that the kainde amedha didn't hear them. They just kept doing their business as Maria puts her spear down but keeps it extended in case. She looks at him before using the spear and points out the big kainde amedha.
"Is that what you were trying to keep from me?"
"Yes."
That was pretty fast. His head was bowed pretty low like he was scared of her or at least her reaction to this. Maria was pretty upset about him trying to keep her away but also starts to understand a little bit too. This thing was way massive and out of her league.
"What the fuck is that?"
She kept her voice as low as possible, looking back once in a while to see if the kainde amedha heard them. So far . . . they haven't noticed them yet. Za'taan moves slowly until he kneeled down beside her, keeping a close eye on her and vise versa with Maria.
"That is a queen. The leader of the kainde amedha and the one responsible for all of this mess."
She looks back and observes the queen as she screeches a little at the others as if giving orders and some of the creatures backed off, bowing low like they had disrespected her in some way. Maria looks back at Za'taan.
"Well, that makes sense but why haven't we've seen it before?"
"Usually a queen would be in a hive where it is protected. But this one . . . I have no idea. In fact, when Vahrouh stole the ship with the kainde amedha, there was no queen. Only the kainde amedha that we've seen before. One must have evolved into one."
"Evolve?"
This was getting more confusing for Maria. So, one of those things can turn into a queen just like that? That's too crazy to believe. But Maria can see it as clear as day, walking around as if she owned the place along with her brew. But it was the least concern for her.
"But why keep this from me? I don't understand."
"It wasn't that, Maria. It was . . . something else."
The pause in his voice caught Maria's attention. She knew immediately that it wasn't the queen that caused Za'taan to try and keep her away from camp. Something on his mind told him otherwise.
"So what is—"
She stopped when she heard screams and whines coming from the camp and she heard the kainde amedha screeching all around. Maria moves her body around and watches as a group of kainde amedha carrying something in their circle. They stopped when they got to their queen and broke off, revealing Ana who was restrained by some of the creatures.
Maria gasped in silence as she watched Ana cry, terrified at what was happening to her. Maria was about to go to her until she saw yet another body that was being dragged by one kainde amedha. However, Maria was having trouble seeing who it was until the creature moved away and placed the body on the ground.
What she saw had her heart breaking into millions of pieces. It was her mother that was lying on her back in the middle of all the kainde amedha and Maria felt helpless for just watching this. She did take notice that something was attached to her face but had no idea what it was until it moved slightly. Something was on her face and Maria didn't know what to do. The queen takes interest as she moves closer to inspect her mother, sniffing a bit until she lifts her head up and roars.
Maria had to cover her ears a bit since it was so loud and fierce. When it was done, the queen looks towards Ana and screeches again and the kainde amedha move her closer. Ana thrashed around, screaming for them to let her go but it was no use.
Maria had just enough and was about to dart out into the open until Za'taan stops her, grabbing her arm forcefully. She turns around in anger but keeps her voice down.
"Za'taan. Let me go. I have to help them."
"No, Maria. It's too dangerous. You can get killed and you're not strong enough to fight them yet."
This again? Maria couldn't believe that Za'taan would say something like that. After everything they have been through, he still doubts her. Sure she may not be as strong as Za'taan but she had fought these things before and killed one too. When another scream from Ana echoes once more, Maria had enough.
"Let me go!"
She pulls again and by some miracle, she slips away from him and rushes out of the bush and into the open.
"Maria!"
But it was too late. With Maria already out in the open and Za'taan's voice roaring as loud as it could, all of the kainde amedha, the queen, and Ana turn towards her and see her fully. Maria stands tall and angry, ready for a fight as she gets into position with her knees slightly bent while both her hands grip tightly on the spear.
"Maria!"
Ana's voice calls to her in relief and Maria looks at her, smiling so that she can assure Ana that it will be alright. However, the queen roars into the air and the kainde amedha begin to stalk towards her.
Maria stands still as they kept coming closer and closer. The tension in the air was threatening to break and it would only take one sound to do it. Sure enough, the queen roars once more and some of the kainde amedha sprints forward, claws and teeth bared and ready to rip her apart.
She sees one leap into the air and coming down on her with all the might it had. She stands her ground, ready to strike it down until a pair of blades hit the side of its head, causing its lifeless body to fall onto the ground while its green blood spills and burns the ground where it touches. Maria turns to see that Za'taan had launched his wrist blades and killed the creature before her. Although she was still upset about earlier, she was glad that he was there with her. She smiles a bit before she turns quickly at the queen who had roared in anger at them.
Za'taan quickly gets to her side and pulls out his other wrist blades, sharpening them a bit as Maria does the same with her spear. The queen roars at them and the rest of the kainde amedha line up in front of her, hissing in anger at Za'taan and Maria.
Za'taan moves closer to Maria until they were almost shoulder to shoulder and calls out to her.
"You shouldn't have taken off like that. What were you thinking?"
Neither looked at each other in fear that the black creatures would attack them at any moment as they crawled closer to them. Maria puffs at him.
"I'm doing what I thought was right. My friend and mother are in the middle of this. I can't just sit back and watch. I will fight whether you like it or not."
In response, Za'taan grunts a little but then does something unexpected. He pushes the side of his body onto hers, purring a little so that the vibrations from him would flow into her. It did its charm as Maria closes her eyes and moans a little. Somehow, even during this time, he can have such an effect on her and Maria couldn't help but smile.
"You're such a stupid ooman. But strong and have a spirit of a Yautja nonetheless."
She chuckled at his words for a moment and turned her head towards him as he did the same. Maria smiles at him and in some way, she could see his red eyes glowing and can feel a smile creeping behind his mask.
"Thank you . . . for being here with me."
She leans her body back to him and he purrs again. She gets another surprise when he leans his head to the side until it gently presses on the top of her head, rubbing a bit as a way of caressing her.
"We will live through this. And we'll get your mother and Ana back. I promise and a Yautja always keeps his promise."
Although his voice sounded like there was a hint of worry in it, he rubs his head once more on her and Maria relaxes a bit, enjoying this precious moment until they separated again, hearing the kainde amedha come even closer to them. Both Maria and Za'taan get back into their positions again. Their weapons were sharp and ready for battle and Maria looks back one more time at Za'taan, nodding as he does the same at her.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Maria didn't hesitate when answering him. She already knows what needs to be done and the fear that she once had was gone. Her body was filled with rage and warmth and she wanted nothing more than to strike down the kainde amedha and take her family and friend away from all this. She will fight . . . no matter what.
When the queen roars once more, many of the kainde amedha launches forward, screeching with all of their might. Maria screams at them and Za'taan roars as well and both of them sprints forward, racing at them with all the strength they had.
And the battle of life and death . . . had begun.
Little did they know that Vahrouh was watching from afar, grinning as he watched the battle begin and all he could think of is how he will exact his revenge in a way that it will break Za'taan's prideful spirit.
Once and for all . . .
Hi Readers!
Sorry for the delay on this chapter. It has been a tough week with so much homework from college and the stress that comes with it (had been sick as well and taken some time off from writing a bit). It had been a lot for me. :(
With that, this chapter is probably not my best one as I was having difficulty in trying to make a connection between chapters so I apologize if this one disappoints you.
However, the story will get more brutal and exciting but yet sad so I hope that you will bear with me a little longer. And I thank all the readers who take their time in reading my story, even with all of the flaws in it as well. I really appreciate it.
Now . . . Maria and Za'taan are going into battle with the fiercest creatures in the universe in order to save her mother and Ana but will it be too late? With Vahrouh waiting in the shadows, will all of them make it out in one piece or will one of them fall?
Find out when Chapter 22 comes rolling along!
Enjoy! :)))