It was a cool night, cooler than most. The moon was hidden by clouds and Angela could smell rain in the air. Qua Sho had fallen asleep many hours before, his mouth was lightly ajar and he was snoring loudly. Altamha was downstairs, sleeping on the couch with a few blankets and two pillows. Angela had found out that Altamha and Qua Sho had had a relationship a few years ago, a strong relationship. She didn't get many of the details, but she had a feeling that the break up was entirely Altamha's fault.
Altamha had ordered Angela to get two pillows, one for her head and the other for her feet and two blankets, one a sheet and the other a quilt. Qua Sho had even requested of her to do things she wouldn't normally do. He had ordered her to cook dinner, make Altamha's bed, clean the bathroom and he had even told her to go upstairs to the library to alphabatize the novels. She was happy though, other than that she was left alone.
"She has to learn." Altamha had said.
"She's going to now." Qua Sho had replied. "No slacking off."
Angela was in a fit of rage by the time the sun had rose up above the trees, Qua Sho wasn't up yet so she slowly and carefully slipped from under the covers and out of bed. She dressed herself quickly and then she walked silently down the stairs and into the kitchen. Altamha was snoring lightly, one of her hands was hanging out to the side and Angela stopped long enough to put it back under the covers. She then started preparing Qua Sho's coffee and some green tea.
"How long have you been up?" Altamha asked.
"For awhile." Angela growled.
"What's that smell?" Altamha asked.
"Green tea." Angela replied.
"I've heard of this substance, Qua Sho is addicted to it." Altamha said. "Don't make anymore."
"Why not..." Angela snapped. "It's not hurting anybody."
"Qua Sho doesn't need that stuff." Altamha exclaimed. "No one does."
"We'll see what Qua Sho says." Angela said.
"Qua Sho has allowed you get spoiled," Altamha snarled. "Its time to undo the damage."
"You're not the boss of me." Angela snapped.
"No, but Qua Sho is." Altamha replied.
Qua Sho walked clumbsily into the room and stopped short. Altamha was glaring at Angela with her hands positioned for a slap. Angela was sitting silently, watching with calm eyes but her mouth was trembling. Both women turned when they heard him hiss, he wanted to know what was going on.
"What's going on here?" Qua Sho asked.
"Just telling Angela whose boss around here." Altamha sighed.
"Yeah, and telling me I can't make green tea anymore." Angela said calmly.
"I'm afraid Altamha is right," Qua Sho said. "No more green tea."
"But...I." Angela stammered.
"Pour the tea down the drain Angel." Qua Sho ordered.
Angela did as she was told with a heavy heart. Altamha stared at her with triumpant eyes, Angela had lost this one. She had tried but she had lost. Qua Sho looked at Angela's scarred back with angry eyes. He too was sick of Angela's attitude, she had gone too far. He could take the hittings and kickings but he couldn't take the running away. He had a good mind to sell the things he had bought for her a few days ago.
"This isn't fair." Angela wailed.
"It is fair, you have to learn." Qua Sho hissed.
"It's for your own good." Altamha sighed.
"You stay out of this." Angela snarled. "I was talking to Qua Sho."
"Angel, that's enough." Qua Sho growled. "Go up to the library and finish the work there first."
"No, not until you start saying my name right." Angela hissed.
"Angel!" Qua Sho roared. "Go now."
"It's Angela asswhole." Angela screamed.
"ANGEL!" Qua Sho roared.
"Go up now, don't make me use this." Altamha snarled.
Altamha was holding a stick, a long and thick stick with barbs sticking along the sides. Angela felt her anger soar, the stick was the culprit this time. No one ever raised a whip or a stick to her without having the stick used on them first. She could take a hand or a foot but a stick was the end. With a growl she jumped and latched onto the stick with powerful hands. Altamha pulled her off and slashed her arm open. Angela howled in fright and pain, she ran quickly into the library and slammed the door shut behind her.
"She's got to learn." Altamha repeated.
"She will with you here." Qua Sho replied.
"I've trained Cavelopica, I can train her too." Altamha sighed.
"Be careful, she's delicate." Qua Sho sighed.
"That's why I dumped you." Altamha exclaimed. "Because you are too soft."
"I'm not soft." Qua Sho hissed. "You take that back."
"No, you are soft and..." Altamha started.
"Qua Sho is not soft at all." Angela snarled. "You take it back now."
"What are you doing in here?" Altamha snapped. "Get back to your work."
"No, I'm going to set the line right now." Angela growled.
Angela stood in the doorway, her eyes glazed and full of fire. She had heard the entire conversation from the library, even from the closed door she had heard the heated words. When she had heard Altamha insult Qua Sho she had felt her stomach tense, Altamha said she trained Cavelopica's, but she had no idea the spirit in one. It was the spirit of every animal, it never died. It stayed in that animal for life, and Angela was no exception.
"Qua Sho may be a pest, but I do like him a lot." Angela hissed. "He's a tough guy and is not soft."
"You need another lesson?" Altamha growled.
"I'm not going to sit around and allow someone else to insult him like you are." Angela said.
"Yautja are not suppost to be soft or sensitive." Altamha sighed. "Qua Sho is showing a weakness."
"Oh and you can't tell me you didn't have feelings for him." Angela shot back.
"Well...yeah I did." Altamha stammered. "But it was a school crush."
"Bull, you had more than a crush on him." Angela accused.
"Sadly, Angel you are right." Qua Sho sighed.
"We did have a relationship, but that was a long time ago." Altamha sighed.
Angela couldn't believe it, Qua Sho was agreeing with her. He had sat himself up straighter and was looking at Altamha with distrustful eyes. Angela could tell that she was winning, Altamha could see it too. Her cheeks were reddening and she was jumping from one foot to the other. Paula had opened the window and was listening to the entire thing. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So who dumped who?" Angela asked.
"I dumped her." Qua Sho said. "She was too adventureous."
"That is not true, you didn't supply me with the love I needed." Altamha retorted.
"I gave you everything." Qua Sho snapped.
"You left me in the middle of the rainy season." Altamha accused.
"I had to end it, so I did." Qua Sho sighed.
"So let me get this straight," Angela sighed. "Altamha cheated on you?"
"No I did not." Altamha exclaimed.
"Yes, she cheated on me with Eleoc." Qua Sho sighed.
"And let me guess, she wants to come back." Angela said.
"She told me that a few months ago." Qua Sho said.
"And you said no." Angela said. "Right?"
"Right, I said no." Qua Sho said. "I said I never wanted to love again."
"Then he met you." Altamha sighed. "I thought that..."
"You tried to break us up." Angela accused.
"Yes, I tried and I have failed." Altamha sighed.
Angela stood with her hands on her hips, she had walked a few steps closer to Qua Sho but had stopped when Altamha had confirmed her thoughts of the breakup. Qua Sho had seated himself deeper into the chair, it creaked under his weight and threatened to break. Paula was proud of Angela, she would stand up for anyone who needed help, and right now Qua Sho needed the help. Altamha was standing in the far off corner, her hands pressed closely to the wall.
"Can't you forget the past and move on?" Angela sighed.
"It's hard, but yes we can do that." Altamha said.
"You can still be friends." Angela said. "Nothing wrong with that."
"Yes, I suppose you are right." Altamha sighed. "I'm so sorry Qua Sho."
"Your apology is accepted." Qua Sho said.
Angela had walked over to him and was rubbing his shoulders, relieving him of the crick in his neck. He moaned and brought his left hand up, touching her waist. Altamha was busy at the stove, making breakfest. Qua Sho was late and would probably be even later coming home. He left without finishing his coffee or eating. Angela wished him luck and gave him a kiss. Altamha left a few hours later, saying she wanted to go home for awhile.
Clean the clothes
Wash the dishes
Dust the upstair rooms
Cook lunch
Wash bed sheets and pillow covers
Wash floors
Angela couldn't believe it, the list was short but it would take the whole day. Washing the floors and dusting the upstairs rooms would take most of her time. The kitchen was small but there were small spaces that the sponges could not reach. The dusting tool would only reach up half way and would always drop dust into her eyes. With a sigh she went to work, hoping that the day would get better.
When Qua Sho got home he smelled the sweet aroma of roasting chicken and burnt potatoes. He rushed into the kitchen and saw Angela hustling about, clanging pans sounded and the stove was burning. Quickly he turned the stove off and turned violently towards Angela's hunched back. She still hadn't noticed he was home, she was busy shucking corn.
"You trying to burn the place down?" Qua Sho rasped.
"No," Angela gasped. "I didn't know you were home."
"The stove was burning." Qua Sho said. "You didn't know that?"
"Woops, sorry." Angela blushed. "I can't do two things at once."
"You couldn't of stopped what you were doing to shut off the stove." Qua Sho exclaimed.
"I was busy." Angela said. "How was your day?"
"Don't change the subject." Qua Sho roared. "Did you think about the possibility of burning our home down?"
"No." Angela sighed. "It is a pyramid."
Qua Sho, with a roar, out palmed Angela onto the floor. Angela looked up with incredulous eyes, tears edging into the corners. Her cheek was turning purple and was swelling up. She couldn't believe what had happened, she hadn't done anything but reply to his question. With a thrust of her shoulders, she raised herself up and plopped back into the chair.
"It may be a pyramid, but it can be burned down." Qua Sho rasped.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Angela cried.
"Don't give me that." Qua Sho roared. "You did know."
"Am I suppost to know a pyramid can be burned down?" Angela asked.
"Don't take that tone of voice with me." Qua Sho roared.
"I'll...I'm sorry Qua Sho." Angela sighed.
"Get up to our room, I'll be even later to the hunting party thanks to you." Qua Sho roared.
Angela couldn't believe it, Qua Sho was blaming her for this. All she had done was try to help. She had done almost everything on the list except the cleaning of the clothes. She had purposely left that for last. She did not want to be touching Qua Sho's sweaty loin cloths and armour. She could hurl, they smelled so bad. They smelled as if a skunk had skunked him. Flattening herself to the bed, she started crying.
"Angel, I'm going." Qua Sho called up. "This place better be in tip top shape when I get back."
"It will be." Angela said. "I promise it will."
The door was slammed shut and she saw Qua Sho meeting a dozen other Yautja males. She could just about see Celtic, Chopper, Scar and Yvertjo in the crowd. She knew that Melkire, Lotoja and Master Yautofo were there too. Where they were going was a question she didn't want answered. With a heavy heart, she walked into the laundry room and started cleaning the clothes.
An hour later she was in bed, crying her heart out in sorrow. Qua Sho hadn't returned and she was worried, he always returned by eight. It was ten, and still Qua Sho was missing. A hunt wouldn't last two extra hours would it? She wondered if he was cheating on her, possibly with Altamha. She couldn't help it, she needed to talk to Paula.
Walking down into the kitchen and opening the window, Angela knocked silently on the slightly ajar window beside Qua Sho's pyramid. When Paula didn't come she knocked harder, Paula came but almost totally naked. She was covering her chest with a towel and was in distress.
"What?" Paula asked.
"Yvertjo come home yet?" Angela asked.
"No, and I'm worried." Paula sighed.
"I need to talk to Janet and the others." Angela said. "Call a meeting."
"Right away."
Paula, Karen and Kelly were standing in the middle of the street shivering five minutes later, Janet and the others followed a few minutes later. Angela could tell by the look in their eyes and the way their lips trembled that Celtic, Chopper, Melkire and Scar hadn't returned yet. With a heavy heart Angela walked back into Qua Sho's pyramid and gathered six spears. When she returned she gave one to each of the girls.
"What're these for?" Sue asked.
"We're going to find them." Angela said.
"Qua Sho isn't going to like that." Altamha said.
Altamha was standing by a pole lamp, her hands held by her waist and she had a stern look to her face. She had a long spear leaning by her side and a knife was strapped to her leg. Angela walked over quickly, friendly, with her hand out stretched. She wanted to know if Altamha would help.
"He might not like it, but it has to be done." Angela said.
"That's what he likes about you." Altamha sighed. "Your determination."
"Angela has enough to go around." Kelly said.
"Wish I had that spark." Altamha sighed.
"You do, it's dormint though." Angela said. "You have to wake it."
"How?" Altamha asked.
"Call your spirit and she'll awake it for you." Sue said.
"How do I call my spirit?" Altamha asked.
"Come, come with me." Angela said.
Angela led Altamha into a quiet spit of land and sat down. Sue and the others did the same, they had all done this and were willing to do it again. Altamha, reluctant at first, seated herself beside Angela with a sigh. Angela and the others started meditating at once, even Altamha meditated. She was like that for a few minutes, then she felt her heart open and her spirit enter into her. She felt herself flying, opening itself. Her determination quickly flew in, engulfing her body with shivers.
"It is complete." Angela said. "Your spirit has done its work."
"Thank you, thank you so much." Altamha sighed. "Now, lets go find Qua Sho and the others."
They trudged behind Angela quietly and in single file. Janet, Paula and Sue felt Angela's power swiftly overtake them, she was once again proving herself. Kelly, Karen and Altamha followed thinking the same thing about Angela, how great and noble she was. Angela stopped a few miles from the town and touched a twig. Qua Sho and the others had walked through here. Stretching her legs out, she quickened her strides and passed more broken twigs and some excretion made by Celtic. The others had to jog, she was quickly getting ahead of them. They turned another corner and stopped short.
Celtic was lying down, his face pressed into the earth. Scar and Chopper were sitting alongside him, distressed and bleeding from both sides. Angela ran forward and turning Celtic over she checked his pulse. It was steady and strong, he had a large bump on his head and a huge scratch on his chest. Scar and Chopper were engulfed in hugs and kisses, Janet cried softly. Celtic moaned, then he sat up and rubbed his eyes. Everyone relaxed and Angela moved to the left. She watched as Janet hugged and kissed him affectionatley.
"Where are the others?" Angela asked.
"What happened?" Janet asked.
"We were attacked, by Xenomorphs." Celtic gasped.
"What's that?" Karen asked.
"It's..." Celtic started.
"It's a four legged creature with two mouths and claws." Angela said. "They live in hives and are ruled by a queen."
"How did you know that?" Janet exclaimed.
"Think I just sit around twindling my thumbs." Angela sighed. "I read."
"Where are the others?" Kelly asked. "Melkire, Qua Sho, Yvertjo, Master Yautofo and Lotoja."
"They ran ahead of us." Chopper whispered. "They told us to stay here."
Angela didn't waste any time, she raced into the forest and followed the tracks her mate had made a few hours ago. The others followed slowly behind her. She could hear their yells to slow down and their heavy footfalls. She turned a corner and came to a cave. A knife, bloody and melting, was stuck in the side of a rock. Angela picked it up and examined it closely. The others crowded behind her. The knife was Yvertjo's.
"Paula, here this is Yvertjo's." Angela said. "He's in that cave."
"Oh please let him be okay." Paula begged.
"He'll be fine." Angela said.
Walking into the cave was easier said than done. It was narrow and they had to move single file. Angela stopped every few steps to see if there was anything to tell her where to go. They reached the other side of the intrance, and in their path was Yvertjo. He was lying on his side and was bleeding badly from his arm. Infact, his arm was missing. It was lying a few feet away, dripping on the floor.
"Yvertjo, Yvertjo." Paula screamed. "Oh my, Angela is he okay?"
"His breathing is normal." Angela said. " Get the mask from his waist please."
Paula quickly grabbed the mask and placed it gently on his face. He was revived a few minutes later, but he was still in a daze. Angela checked his pulse and noticed it was slightly high. She removed the mask and looked into his eyes. Both were dilated and responsive, but he still wouldn't talk. Angela could tell he was in pain, she she pulled out the medicomp and gave him a blue pain killer. He started talking when it took effect on his body.
"Ugh, you should be home." Yvertjo gasped.
"We got worried." Paula cried.
"Where are the others?" Angela asked.
"Last time I saw them," Yvertjo coughed. "They were headed that way."
Yvertjo coughed and Paula replaced the mask, he took a long suck and stopped coughing. Angela left but returned a few minutes later with a few sharp rocks that she chiseled. She gave each one a rock and looked at them with stern eyes, They all knew the plan, and they didn't like it at all.
"Paula, you Celtic and Chopper stay behind." Angela ordered. "Me and the others will be back."
"No, we'll come..."Yvertjo coughed.
"You are to weak to walk." Angela said. "Paula and the others will help you back to town."
"Gotcha." Paula said. "After we do that what?"
"Get a doctor." Angela said.
Angela raced into the back of the cave and the other followed. She heard Yvertjo's yelps of pain as he was raised and dragged back into the intranceway. She wished them luck, Yvertjo was really in pain. The cave stretched a few more miles and then stopped with a wall of stone. Angela examined the wall and noticed that there was an opening for a few Yautja to crawl in. She started crawling in, but stopped with a gasp. Sitting infront of her were Melkire and Lotoja.
"Wait you guys." Angela called back. "I'm coming back with Melkire and Lotoja."
"Oh god please let them be okay." Kelly exclaimed.
"Melkire?" Angela said. "Lotoja?"
Melkire woke up with a start and shook his head. Lotoja did the same, both had similiar slash wounds to their ribs and Melkire had a large bump on his forehead. With a yell of pain, Angela pulled them back towards the girls. Kelly, once she saw Melkire, raced over and gave him hugs and kisses. Melkire grunted in pain, he was trying to stand up. Angela pushed him back down slowly.
"Kelly, you and Karen carry Melkire and Lotoja back home." Angela ordered.
"Yes, and get a doctor right?" Karen asked.
"Yes, quickly by the looks of it." Angela said.
Melkire and Lotoja went without a fight back to the intranceway of the cave and were slowly pushed out. Angela waited until she could no longer hear the yelps of pain from Melkire, then she continued. Sue, Janet, Scar and Altamha followed silently as she crawled her way back into the crevice. When they emerged from crevice they walked a little farther and saw the shadowed figures of the rest. Qua Sho was leaning against the wall, blood was pouring from a wound to his inner thigh. Master Yautofo, whowas lying face down in a puddle of water, was bleeding from his hand. A dead Xenomorph was lying a few yards away from them.
"Qua Sho, please Qua Sho wake up." Angela exclaimed.
"Angel, lets get them up to the top." Janet exclaimed. "Quickly."
Altamha picked Qua Sho up by the shoulders and with Angela's help they carried him out of the cave. Janet and Scar followed closely behind carrying Lotoja. They set them down and went back into the cave. A few minutes later they returned with Master Yautofo's body. They carried the bodies back to the city and layed them down on an awaiting buggy. Angela and Altamha went back for Master Yautofo. They returned a few moments later and layed his body beside Lotoja and Qua Sho. The buggy rolled down the street, and Angela and the others followed despite the crowds that had gathered.