Stunning Encounters
By Kaimaler
Oh yes! Please, take the opportunity to go to my user page and at the very top they'll be a "Poll", please! Vote! Your vote counts! :D
When it's over, I'll rally the votes and publish my new story! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone chooses! Currently, only two people have voted so I'm sad right now. But! With any luck (of which I have NONE) more people will go and vote on the poll while they have the chance.
You can decide my next story! Though options are limited I'm willing to hear any suggestions, send me a PM if you have any at all! I may say yes! :)
Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone's heard it all before!
Character Disclaimer:
Two characters do not belong to me, while they shall remain unnamed for now, their respective owners are:
Nok-tjau'ke - Infernothechinchilla.
Alha'uxi - GODDESS-Rita-ofDARK.
Thank you, Rita and Inferno! I love them both so much!
The acceptance Diana gained was quite the shock; yautjan warriors, unblooded and blooded alike treated her with the same respect the Stooges had taught Diana to give others.
Except Bad Blood, that would destroy her life indefinitely.
Of course Diana had her new understanding of what right and wrong was in the presence of others. Signals that Korrine could pick up went right over the yautja's heads, they passed over various forms of physical language humans were so talented at understanding and their specie was not. Korrine would smile when Diana waved off a detail by snapping her hand open and closed as if cleaning dirt off inside her palm; yautja barely even noticed the motion.
"It's time Diana." Korrine called inside the room, earning a stumbling Diana hooking on the last piece of armor. "I bloody swear, no matter how many times I have to put this clunky, annoying stuff on, I will never get it on straight!" She finished the last piece, locking it into place while Korrine stood chuckling at her daughters' agitation.
"I'm glad you find my plight so amusing mother." Diana sighed, Korrine just ushered her out the door. "Come now love, Alha'uxi and Small Stone will be leaving shortly and I will be there to see them off with or without you."
Diana pretended to take offense, gasping and putting a hand over her heart in shock. "Mother! How could you?" Her lower tusks quivered in fear. Korrine laughed, patting Diana's arm. "Because I'm your mother and I'm allowed to be mean."
Giving up the act, Diana just followed suit behind Korrine, choosing the less busy halls to reach the hanger. Diana couldn't help but remind herself of movies and games from her home just to make memorizing various things easier. It actually aided her memory a great deal.
"Ah, here we are." Korrine walked inside, watching Alha'uxi and Small Stone speak to Ky'gon as they approached. "Hey guys." Diana greeted, the Stooges would never speak a word, but seeing Diana in armor was still strange; regardless of specie, Diana stood out from the others, her weight, muscles, and overall appearance didn't suit the same powerful, towering females of their world.
"We were wondering if you were going to arrive on time." Alha'uxi nodded towards mother and daughter, "I am sure our paths will cross again, we have instructed Ky'gon of all that must be done before the completion of your training."
"Oh, thanks." Diana mumbled, she hadn't a clue what she was going to do. The trio spoke of it like parents would school for their children. While it was fun to watch them toss thoughts and necessities around, what they usually entailed wouldn't be so enjoyable for Diana.
"Farewell Koorene." Alha'uxi bid the woman, who nodded back. "Goodbye Alha'uxi, Small Stone, safe journey." The two bowed back, turning to the two young yautja.
"Take care of Dy'anna; it will be most difficult for her to change her ways in order to learn. Be patient and understanding Ky'gon." He lectured, the blooded hunter smiled back to the older warrior, "And Dy'anna, I ask only that you restrain yourself, keep calm and take the training to heart. It will be hard to learn at first, but you are built to do more then you know."
"I'll do the best I can Alha'uxi, I'll see you two soon." She grinned, Diana would return to Earth but not for some time. The two experienced warriors would come back only then to take Korrine and Diana home.
Unfortunately, this stuck the two with a time limit to when the warriors returned. There would be a hunt in a year when they'd return for Ky'gon, Diana's first hunt, and Korrine so that the two could settle back down in another part of the world, away from those that at first tracked them down.
As the two warriors boarded the ramp, Korrine, Diana, and Ky'gon remained to watch the ship leave the clan ship completely. Once the duo had left, Ky'gon turned around and led the mother and daughter out of the hanger bay.
"We will begin in the morning Dy'anna; I have to make our plans before we do anything." Diana nodded, "Shouldn't I meet people? Know who to avoid and who to make friends with?"
Ky'gon looked curiously at Diana, "Until you show yourself worthy of a hunt, most will not associate with you. So far all they know about you is that you are young and have an Ooman following you. I know a few that may aid our training, though I will have to question them about it before you meet them."
"Then... what do we do?" She looked around the hallway they were passing through, other yautja ignored her and Korrine, but most would acknowledge the Elder's son walking past them. Apparently, Ky'gon was famous.
Diana chuckled; it was amusing to think such a little thing like being someone's child would get them so much recognition.
"We will be studying our culture more today; tomorrow we shall begin your first physical training." Ky'gon examined Diana's form, looking over the muscle tone and size. "Our kind is naturally strong, though you will need much exercise before you are ready to begin learning how to hunt."
"Oh gee, wonderful." Diana wasn't interested in learning how to hunt; the last time she was in a fight with someone she ended up electrocuted and still had the crisscross burns to prove it. "Hey, what kind of exercise are we talking about?"
Ky'gon smiled, stopping in front of a door. "This kind." The door was larger then the rest, it was two doors crossing over each other and the moment they opened up, Diana swore Ky'gon was doing this just to mess with her.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The room was filled to the ceiling with tools, heavy weights and an open area in the middle to sport exercise matches. Exercise tools that looked like torture devices, training weaponry that looked ready to kill; the entire room looked more like a death trap then an exercise chamber. This wasn't something Diana was looking forward to trying out.
"I assure you everything you see here is what you shall be taking on tomorrow." Apparently, Ky'gon didn't understand Diana's meaning. She glanced to the young male beside her, sending a warning look his way before the moved on.
"I will wake you and Koorene for training tomorrow; Koorene will accompany us only so that I know I am giving only what you can handle and what she will allow me to do." Ky'gon led them away from the training room, "Is that enough for you Koorene?"
"Oh yes love, that's just fine."
Diana had been knocked down more times then she'd care to count. At first she wouldn't have been so bothered since she had never done such a thing before... Of course, that was before Diana was made aware that she had an audience watching her and Ky'gon exercise.
"Come, again." Ky'gon ordered, the translator was off so Korrine sat on the sidelines just watching the two converse in a language beyond her and her daughter fight in an uneven battle against an opponent obviously much better then she.
Ky'gon sported less armor and a long thick pole he used to attack Diana with repeatedly. Korrine winced every time she saw her daughter struck with another bruising blow from Ky'gon's pole, only to meet the area ground again. After a short while, Diana clearly gave up any and all attempts to win against Ky'gon and instead tried more on defending herself and dodging the painful blows.
One after another, Ky'gon was relentless, whacking every weak point Diana had; using her inability to fight to his advantage. Korrine felt Ky'gon should let up on his attacks as it was quickly becoming more and more like he had forgotten who he fought against and focused more on winning.
Were it not for the growing crowd of yautja that gathered in the exercise chamber, Korrine would've stopped this fight half and hour ago. For now, she'd sit still and let Ky'gon know her discomfort.
Clearing her throat, Diana turned her attention to her mother and Ky'gon followed suit. Shaking her head slightly, Diana smiled in thanks while Ky'gon nodded to signify his understanding.
He listened to Korrine, so as the force at which he struck Diana went down, his speed went up.
It was becoming more difficult to dodge, impossible to maneuver without getting cut, and before the end of the day, Diana knew she faced quite the beating. Sore already, bruises showed themselves and Ky'gon ignored it, offering little more then time for her to breathe before continuing the onslaught.
Every few moments, Ky'gon would stop, Diana would calm her nerves, and he'd start again. It became a perpetual motion of fighting, beating, stopping, and repeat. Diana was tired, she wasn't used to this kind of physical stress; this wasn't normal and she was beginning to show.
Standing still became a challenge just as much as standing up was. Breathing in wasn't a concern, but the moment she released her heavy pants, her joints would shake and shiver, begging her to fall and surrender this fight.
Ky'gon didn't intent to stop even as Diana showed her exhaustion. He was too much for her and she wasn't able to do half as much as he could. It was a case of training and experience, Diana had none and Ky'gon had years.
When Ky'gon poised for another strike, he heard a voice speak up, interrupting his thoughts.
It was as quiet as a whisper, but it was directly next to him. "Ky'gon, stop this. Diana can barely stand; she's had enough." Korrine stopped him, leading Diana off the area ground and away from the blooded young male.
He understood, throwing his and Diana's training weapon aside, he joined the mother and daughter leaving the exercise chamber. He wasn't struck a single time, Diana's inexperience was her downfall and he momentarily forgot she wasn't a clan-born pup; she existed on Earth with a human family. Their species differed so greatly that Ky'gon hadn't the time to actually learn just how different they really were.
Korrine led Diana straight to her bed chambers, courtesy of Ky'gon's father, and sat her down on the bed.
"That did not go well." Korrine sighed; Diana sat shaking on the edge of the bed.
Ky'gon looked to Diana's bruised form. "She seems to have little understanding of strategy; her tactics are all wrong, striking at bad moments, dodging into attacks."
"That isn't the problem Ky'gon," Korrine grinned, "We never exposed her to much violence beyond movies and video games, so fighting isn't something she knows anything about. She's young and hasn't a clue how to fight, teach her basics, give her time Ky'gon, she'll do it eventually." Ky'gon nodded, watching Korrine relax Diana's sore muscles.
"Yeah, thanks for that." Diana mocked playfully, "I really did miss getting beaten up."
Ky'gon regarded only for a second before Korrine waved her finger at him, telling him not to take it seriously. "You'll practice more later, for now; Ky'gon wanted to explain the trophies."
After resting a bit, Diana got right back up, slightly sore, but without drastic damage. As Korrine mentioned, Ky'gon had to explain trophies and what they mean to yautjan culture.
Unfortunately, this wasn't something Diana wanted to take part in when she saw the 'trophies.'
"Oh God, that's disgusting." Diana growled at the skulls, after seeing the human skulls she took offence... as did Korrine, but she dismissed it much better then her daughter. "How can someone call these trophies?" She pointed to a human skull, writings carved in a halo around the skull and markings down the mid and jaw line, signifying the bone structure of a yautja over the human skull.
That was a great trophy and an adventurous hunt.
"On hunts, a successful hunter receives many trophies. This is simply one." He was showing his comparatively small collection; he was a young blooded hunter, he wasn't experienced enough yet to have trophies like his father had. "After a hunt, the victor removes the skull and cleans it of all materials before mounting it on their wall. Some skulls are marked to symbolize the hunt or the hunted."
Diana recoiled, seeing skulls that were long, narrow, and noticeably without eye sockets. "Why would you do that?" She examined the skull closer, it was unmarked, seemingly a not very significant hunt.
"It is a way to measure a hunter's skill; if during mating season a female is looking for a prospective mate she will use their trophies to tell if he is worthy to mate with her." Diana jumped back, staring at Ky'gon with a disgruntled expression.
"That's... that's..." She shivered; the thought was disturbing to say the least. "I can't imagine that, it's gross." Korrine didn't speak against the wall of skulls, or trophies, it was not her place to comment on it. Ky'gon said it was customary for his people to hold their trophies as such and she'd not argue.
Though, she did agree. It was a nerve racking sight.
"It is only a trophy of a worthy hunt, nothing less." Ky'gon detailed, scanning over a few skulls, "The skulls mounted on a warrior's wall are those worthy of his time, of his skill. Many hunters carry more or less skulls with a story behind each one."
"I don't want to hear those stories..." Diana mumbled, looking at the skulls like desecrated remains, as they really were. "Ky'gon, I know you're trying to show me our species traditions, but I'm not comfortable with this kind of... ritual. It's just plain wrong."
Ky'gon could understand that one not raised in such a way would believe so. He'd just have to teach her how to see beyond the physical existence of this skull and see a trophy, a worthy prey for a hunter's blade.
"Two warriors have challenged each other in the arena; a warrior is challenging another for the rights to mate." Ky'gon stated, distracting Diana and Korrine from the trophies. "I want you to see it; it will allow you insight to how the hierarchy functions."
Diana looked between Ky'gon and the skulls, deciding the fight seemed a better idea then hanging around in a room full of deteriorating bones. "Yeah sure... Let's do that." She nervously followed Ky'gon out of the room, Korrine happily exiting with them.
Outside Ky'gon quarters, Diana watched other larger yautja pass her by, ignoring her completely. They all appeared to be heading in the same direction, save for a few who didn't seem all to interest in this challenge. Speaking of, Diana didn't know what Ky'gon meant by it.
"Ky'gon," She was relieved she remembered to only speak in yautjan around others. "What do you mean a 'challenge'?" She asked, passing a few massive yautja warriors, Korrine slipped easily between Diana and Ky'gon, she was considerably smaller compared to the much larger males and females. It was amusing to see the size difference.
"It is melee combat with one weapon of choice for each fighter, a battle of two warriors using nothing but their skills." Ky'gon elaborated, "When one is challenged, both must compete against one another without outside aid; if one is found breaking the rules they are rewarded a quick death."
"Oh, for a moment I was worried it was..." Diana blinked, staring straight into Ky'gon's back. "Did you say 'death'?"
Ky'gon didn't reply, only led them into a large room filled with an open arena and a few spectators watching the outcome. Leading them out of the way of the door, Ky'gon came face to face with his father watching his clan members battle.
There were metal slabs positioned as seats, only the Elder's held a raised chair to see the sport better.
"Dyt'kna," His father greeted, taking one glance over her seeing the multitudes of new bruises and cuts, "I see you have been training; you must have lost much strength stranded on the Ooman world. I am pleased to see that it has not taken permanent affect on you."
"It feels very good returning to my practice, I only hope I can regain my strength quickly." Diana bowed to the Elder as did Korrine, "I am in luck, I get to witness my first battle aboard your clan ship Elder and I am very thankful you allowed me to take refuge in your clan, else I not have this opportunity."
"I would not let you wander alone in your weakened state; young hunters often make mistakes on their first hunt, I am no stranger to that." He turned to the arena, watching the enemies approach each other and begin the challenge. "It is rare to see two honored warriors challenge each other so readily; usually they are far more patient and accepting."
Diana wasn't interested in the slightest, but knew why Ky'gon wanted her to see the fight. It was between two powerful hunters, each one testing new waters to find the other's weakness. This battle would go to the hunter who could assess their opponent's weakness quicker and strike him down.
As the two circled one another, looking for that perfect moment, Diana remembered seeing Ky'gon do it when training her in the ring earlier. He circled her like prey, poised to strike, and Diana hadn't one idea what was going on or how to fight; she gave him that chance to put her down by fighting back.
She resisted a groan, how come she couldn't see this before? The two moved carefully towards each other, now seconds counted down before one hunter struck the other, one wielding a combi stick and another some form of large dagger too short to be considered a sword.
Though Diana admitted watching two full grown beasts the size of trucks with the force of a tank was somewhat intriguing, she couldn't help but think about what Ky'gon said. "... rewarded a quick death." She didn't want to show her discomfort when sitting directly beside Ky'gon's father, Rokt'kiv.
Diana never thought about it, but Rokt'kiv looked positively terrifying, like some monster out of a sci-fi horror. His tusks were long yet damaged, one was obviously broken off, his dreadlocks were so long they touched his lower back; the horns around his head looked threatening even if there wasn't a purpose for them.
He was adorned with scars, from his forehead, to face, and hands. His skin appeared so much rougher then her own, like his scales grew into ridges some looking quite dangerous.
Diana wouldn't tell anyone, but she was scared of the massive Elder beside her.
Returning her attention to the fight, Diana spotted one combatant had sustained a nasty gash along his side, given in kind from the hunter with the combi stick. He was growling frustration, trying his very best to hide the pain that shot from his ribcage and abdomen. Clearly, he was either going to end his enemy now or loose since the wound restricted various movements.
It was perfectly placed, the attack, once he moved forward the opponent prepared himself to defend. Only ending up with the hunter dodging his block and striking his back attempting to sheath the dagger there. Though his opponent moved, the hunter managed to sink the dagger in his arm instead.
Narrowing her eyes, Diana saw the hunter loose a grip on his dagger as the other moved out of his range, ending up with a dagger still stuck in his arm. Forcefully ripping it out, now his opponent had all the weapons.
He noticed his rather unfortunate predicament and took to dodging the favored combatant as he swung with all his strength, once or twice nicking the unarmed warrior.
Eventually, the battle came down to who was more tired then the other more then who had the weapons.
Comparing the two, the combatant who lost his dagger to the other was seemingly more awake then the other, standing steady and poised, as before, to strike.
Diana watched with mild interest now, it would be amazing if the unarmed hunter defeated the one with all the weapons on his side.
That was, right before the unarmed warrior fought back, using his own superior stamina to redirect his opponent's tired attack to claw the combi stick from his hand and use it against him.
Recoiling, Diana saw the victor embed the combi stick in his enemies' stomach, taking hid dagger again and letting out a triumphant roar.
Oh this didn't bode well, her stomach flipped and she profusely thanked that she could keep herself under control as Ky'gon talked with his father about the fight. Something about outsmarting the opponent rather then overpowering. Diana couldn't care less; she wanted to retreat to her room this instant.
Another stroke of luck, Rokt'kiv was parting ways. "I would like to speak with you a moment." Korrine blinked, she didn't expect this. He was looking directly at her so the request was hers; she nodded her acceptance. "Absolutely." With a small smile, Korrine left down a different hall with Rokt'kiv, leaving Ky'gon and Diana alone.
"Back to the room, now." Diana turning around, heading straight back to her chambers with Ky'gon on her heels. "What is wrong?"
She groaned, "That was horrible; you watch people kill each other as entertainment?" She was quickly reminded of the Gladiatorial Arena in ancient times, but at least they were an ancient civilization that was dead now. "Skulls as trophies, murder for movies, what the bloody hell else is there? Dismemberment for children?"
Ky'gon shook his head, "Dy'anna that was a challenge for the rights to mate, not murder."
Diana gave him a deadpan look. "Oh, I'm sorry. Killing someone because they got your girl isn't murder, how could I be so stupid!" She replied sarcastically, bursting into her chambers as Ky'gon tried to explain it to her better.
"If a female has chosen a male, they mate, if the male wants rights to that female, to prove himself, he challenges the male she chose. When one looses, it is a dishonor to be left alive. The standing male ends the other's life out of respect; it is not a crime."
From the look on her face, that hadn't worked. "If a female chooses a male and another female desires him, the female challenges the other for the rights to mate. It can go both ways for each gender."
"Look, equality isn't the problem here. Killing is and I don't intend on doing it any time soon." She sat back down on the bed, "It's a sin to kill."
Ky'gon realized something else about Diana, it wasn't just their worlds that set them apart, it was more, it was personal morals and, unfortunately, humans had many morals that would disallow the yautjan way of life. Ky'gon knew little about their standards, only that they were drastically different then his. He'd have to look into that.
"For us it is a rite of passage," He grimaced, wrong choice of words. "Correction, it can prove a hunter's honor and strength through defeating another, perhaps more powerful challenger."
"See, I don't get that stuff." Diana sighed, slumped over on the bed. "It's all bollocks. Men measuring their testosterone and seeing who's is more irrational."
She lost him, but he wasn't about to give up. Taking a seat next to her, Ky'gon searched for the right way to phrase this. "If you were born part of a clan, would this be different to you? Or would your life on the Ooman world be?"
Diana shrugged, "I guess it would be stranger on Earth." Ky'gon nodded once, "The difference between our species and oomans are less then we think. It is only how we are taught, how our ancestors had learned to survive that made us as we are now, the separation of both species has defined us so far. Because of recent interaction with the oomans have we began to see passed this. No one notices it, but I have seen it before, even my father has."
"I'm not saying that I don't... respect yautjan culture, it's pretty amazing really, I just don't agree with it." Diana looked around for the answer, "It's not me."
Ky'gon rationalized her reply, she was a yautja born in human culture, it was understandable the differences they faced now as she returned to her own kind. She was misplaced in another world with another sentient lifeform; something unheard of beforehand. It was a new task to complete, a new stepping stone between human and yautja.
Then, comparing the species to each other, Ky'gon thought of something.
If it was an ooman child lost on their homeworld, would the yautja save it? Raise it as their own? Or would they abandon it to its fate, without a second thought?
Ky'gon had a suspicion the latter was more likely. His people spent their long lives perfecting their hunts, their strength, and siring healthy young. He had always waited for the day he'd be worthy enough to sire a pup, though it wasn't going to be anytime soon, he still kept his sights on it.
"This is probably only due to my young age Dy'anna, but I do believe oomans know something we do not." He wanted to urge her to continue as much as possible; but he wasn't going to lie. "I have heard tale after tale, experienced oomans doing things we would not dream of. Sometimes for the better, or not."
"Ky'gon, how does a woman choose a man here? I mean, is it position, strength, what?" Ky'gon looked to the door leading out of the room, imagining his own growing trophy collection. "All of those and more."
"That's not helpful." She growled lazily, earning a huff from her friend.
"A female decides upon a male by reputation, strength, skill, trophies, and how healthy the young he had already sired were." He had almost puffed up with pride as she questioned him about this; he just had to remember that until she was blooded she would not be considered for a mate. "It is rare when a male chooses a female. It does happen and when it does it consists of many battles fought to impress the female; he gives himself a chance to be the chosen mate of his desired female. She must be equally strong with reputation matching or surpassing his own. You can easily assume young males often see themselves more then they are."
"So..." She shifted in her seat, scratching the back of her sore neck. "If I were to get strong enough and age with dignity, I could have a 'mate' of my own specie?"
Ky'gon nearly jumped, was she really asking him about her chances to breed? At her young age? "Dy'anna, you are too young now, in a number of years of course you'd be able to mate." He immediately decided this was awkward, he had something of a protective instinct towards Diana. "If you do train and remain with the clan, eventually you would be deemed worthy to mate, yes."
"How long do yautja marriages or... mate-ship, last?" Diana hadn't a clue what to call monogamy between two yautja's.
"You are referring to lifemates." Interesting, Ky'gon thought, he had just had this conversation with Korrine only now he'd be telling his own species' side. "Until one or both die, usually. Lifemates are extremely rare and I have only seen few who commit themselves to it."
Diana smiled, "At least there's something I agree with. Humans marry and some only have a relationship with their chosen other, some don't, and some divorce."
"We do not have such a thing. If a lifemate is dishonorable to their mate, it is a grave offence and dealt with-" Diana held her hand up, "Let me guess, with a quick death?"
He almost laughed at her assumption. "No, though it has been known to happen. The dishonorable mate is cast off; the offence is unforgivable in any yautjan clan."
"Ah." Pretty much the same, She mused. "Do you decide you're going to have a lifemate or is it like choosing someone to mate with?"
"The decision is made upon agreement of both mates, only then are they considered lifemates." That was the same as a human marriage so far. "As I mentioned, it is rare and though it does not affect either of the mates' positions within the clan, it is seen as an oddity."
"... Do you intend to have a lifemate?"
Once more, this human raised yautja nearly forced a shocked reply out of him. He had remarkable self-control and was swiftly realizing this. "I do not... know as of yet. At my age and the son of an Elder, it is best I sire young before, if I do so choose, to have a lifemate. If I do find a lifemate so early in my life, it could develop as a difficulty."
"How so?" She smirked, her mandible flaring in amusement. "If I do not sire enough young after proving myself to a female, I may end up dishonoring my father's name."
Diana gulped, "Oh..."
Korrine paid little attention to the fight as her focus was more on Rokt'kiv who seemed adamant about asking her questions about herself, Diana, their meeting Ky'gon and his hunt brothers, then turned it all back on her.
Though after the fight, Rokt'kiv seemed far more interested in her then beforehand.
To the point of making a request that she speak with him. Korrine only cringed slightly when she saw Ky'gon's worried expression and Diana's own ill one. She was too disturbed by witnessing the fight.
Of course, Korrine was thankful she didn't see the death of the combatant yet still felt the need to comfort her daughter; for now, Ky'gon would have to take care of that and he wasn't so talented at that.
So here she was, walking beside the Elder of this clan ship, Ky'gon's father, and the only person who could remove Diana from this ship or allow her the freedom to do as she pleased. For now, Korrine would have to play it safe, giving minimal answers to even the most detailed questions.
Rokt'kiv now knew she had a husband, or mate, that he was deceased due to unmentioned means. Korrine hated speaking about Harvey; his recent passing was still a fresh wound. Although she wanted to spite the Stooges for the death of her husband, she knew she couldn't as it wasn't them who killed him.
Korrine was yet to see the creature that caused so much of this trouble, the creature baring the skull Ky'gon had mounted with his trophies. She despised that creature for her husband yet withheld herself from thinking too much about it. Harvey was gone and nothing could bring him back.
Asking about her heritage seemed a safe thing to discuss and it only became complicated when she had to explain how she lived. Rokt'kiv changed the subject instantly, now setting eyes on her staying here and how the clan had been treating her so far.
He wasn't as she suspected, a tyrant over his clan, but an honorable leader who listened to his people with the intents to fix a problem. He was patient and, in his culture, very well educated; he was able to explain things of his people Korrine previously couldn't understand. It was useful having him around; actions showed themselves foolish in her mind were cleared up by Rokt'kiv.
Relaxing some, they were approached by a young male, interrupting their conversation. Korrine couldn't understand them and acted as if she didn't care all too much.
As Rokt'kiv sent her along her way, claiming there was an urgent order that needed to be fulfilled else he face consequences. Korrine was happy enough to leave him be, traveling back down the route they had taken in order to find Diana and Korrine.
Their talk wasn't so much as important as it was Rokt'kiv ensuring there wasn't a concern with her in the presence of his clan. He would continue their conversation later, for now he had business to attend to.
Korrine felt a bit tired talking with Rokt'kiv, he wasn't one for details and only wanted the overview; this was naturally more difficult as life is complicated and brings many unexpected things, but he showed to be bothered only when she gave cryptic answers, telling him she didn't want to stay on that topic he'd often jump to another.
The moment she opened the door, she found Diana and Ky'gon sitting close beside each other, obviously caught up in a deep conversation before Korrine interrupted just as the young yautja had.
"Oh, I'm sorry; did I come at a bad time?"
Blood Shifter 2: Well, yeah. Korrine and Rokt'kiv will get along just fine. :)
It wasn't ever a matter (to me!) of getting the meeting over with, but rather how Diana would cope ditching everything she ever learned just to act like yautja's do while she is around them. It's not that easy.
Late update, been busy, writers block. And my last review received by another reader kinda' set me off. :(
Teddy-wabbitz: WHO KNOWS. I don't, I want to, but I'm rather unlucky with that kinda' stuff. =D
Irish Neko: Nah, Rokt'kiv won't kill her and old people love is always cute. How about I just let you keep guessing until the chapter that answers this is published. :D
Ah yes, as always. Thank you, you're too kind! I thought my latest work was really starting to slip; tired more often, writers blocks. Things tended to build up against my favor...
GODDESS-Rita-ofDARK: Irish Neko (another reader!) just guessed that too. Perhaps I'll have to incorporate that for fanservice. Yesssssssssssssss?
nuttex: GASP!
You guessed! No one else did. :(
So, here's the deal. You got it right and I have nothing to give you in return but something from my story. Sooooo, I want you, (if YOU want to only!) to tell me what you'd most like to see happen within the next chapter (or two, or whatever) and I'll do it! All in dedication towards your awesomeness.
Naturally, this is just an offer, you don't have to if you don't want to! Or something. =)
Also, I loved that movie. "A Beautiful Mind" made me cry, in a good and sad way. =D
Malakia: EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH MEEEEE
Don't worry, I get jerked around a lot and nothing can offend me! I am INVICIBLE. Also, I just had two cadbury creme eggs. LAWL
Yeah, Alha'uxi and Small Stone have left for the time being, leaving Ky'gon, Korrine and Diana alone to do as they... do. Or something. I'm not surrreee.
MORE ROMANCE SOON. In this chapter, there's a liiiiiiiittle. But the romance between a generally disfunctional yautja female who believes she's more human then not is going to take a whiiiiile. Though we'll be skipping ahead to extra romance here soon. =D
I think Diana's fine where she is. She can't fight, easily offended by violence, good hearted but short temper. I think she's normal enough, at least, so much as I can without completely destroying her or the story. =)
Yeah... Diana's practically in a metal bikini...
Oh yeah! I have two readers who want to see Korrine get some old people love, so I decided "Hell, why not?" So there's also going to be a romance between Korrine aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand SOMEONE. HA HA HA Cliffhanger...
Thanks Malakia, you're so awesome, I love your reviews! They make me feel like I'm doing better as time goes on, just as I want it to be! :)
MrRaccoon:
Well now. This is... quite the misunderstanding we have here. I take constructive critism just fine, it'd be much better if you sended it to me through PM though. =)
Diana isn't a "Predator", she's an average being. I study psychology and have been focusing much on the understanding that ones childhood has a much larger impact on their lives then they may think. Parents, friends, area, home, car, land, everything! Isn't that cool? So when I discovered Diana I thought she'd be a perfect character to use as a way to show this psychological study. This story has actually moved me up in my work to be a psychatrist. I'm quite proud of it. :)
It depends on a persons' childhood how they live their adult life and what career they choose. A man who's father was a gambler might resent him and work hard to seperate himself from his father while his brother would pick up his fathers bad habits.
It all depends and Diana was raised by a young couple who had to go through a lot of trouble just to shelter her while they taught her human morals, art, politics, and rights.
How could she know that flaying people and hanging them was a warning? Or that a Xenomorph is the ancient enemy of her specie? How is she to know that her people hunt them and other creatures as a way to prove their worth? She can't and that's why she is like she is.
Hey, that's unfair now. I've not once delved into Diana's life on Earth. Well, maybe a few times before where we joined in on the family but no more. You can't tell me you know that Diana's led a good life on Earth without a single problem if I haven't told you she has. Of which she hasn't. We're not focusing on her life on Earth, we're focusing on her life with Ky'gon and Korrine.
Until I tell you what Diana's life was on Earth you cannot rightfully say you know. Because I have not let a single reader into her past just yet. The earlier chapter with the Stooges asking how Diana has survived on a planet thats oxygen would kill a normal yautja after prolonged exposure is actually a hint that Diana's more then she seems. Most people got that, asking if they'd be able to know more about the crash of Diana's biological parents and before then even.
After which, Diana's life on Earth had not gone well. It took time, but they adjusted. Imagine having a child and only allowing certain people inside your home and restricting yourself to them because if you knew anyone else; you could compramise her life.
Also, Yautja's do not eat the skin. Flaying is a symbol, like in "Concrete Jungle" it serves as a sign to others, not as a food source. Alha'uxi, Small Stone, and Ky'gon weren't eating pancakes, Diana was. As she was raised on them.
Harvey didn't die because of the Stooges, his placement was a misunderstanding on both sides. He was killed because of the local alien specie that exists in the area; not due to their intervention of her family life. It wasn't their fault, Korrine and Diana are experienced enough in life to understand this. In yautjan culture it is dishonorable to kill a person of any specie that wasn't a threat or a challenge to them. It's like kicking someone when they're down. Not right in any way.
Diana had some friends she knew on the side, away from her parents as they would forbid it. Chances on her life and all. Like I said before: I have not told you if she had childhood friends, boy or girl.
I won't be for some time. We're looking in on Diana and Korrine's life within yautjan society; not human, not Earth. Later, we will be, for now... It wouldn't be fitting.
There aren't other humans onboard the Clan ship, if there was, Diana would've made a goal to meet them; to have a friend. Though... I never said there wouldn't be later... *hint hint nudge nudge*
Grizzly? What are you talking about? Ky'gon is the romance in this story, he's older but around her age, he lacks the experience of a wise warrior but that comes with time. He's not as... structurally defined as some other yautja warriors, though I'm not saying (as any yautja hunter is) that he's weaker in any way. He's a regular male yautja, young, determined, and somewhat neive.
Durp. I'm glad you're enjoying it, but ask questions before jumping to conclusions. It took me an hour trying to figure out how to explain this. I feel like I'm giving an overview of the entire story and not just what you've said.
If you have any questions, please, send them to me and I'll answer! =D
Thanks for the constructive critism, I do appreciate your trying to help me improve on my writing. I always love a reader who feels the need to speak up about the story; it tells me I'm actually doing good even if I do need to practice a bit more. :)
