Hey everyone I know it has been awhile but I just started college and it is keeping me busy… I have a question to ask and I will not post the next chapter until I get enough response on it.

Here is part of Chapter 36: Emerald Cove

My armor moved over my skin as I walked I was in the more bulky version of my armor which I found prettier but that was just a minor like of mine. I paced as I was impatient, which most say I got from Kulu, what I was impatient for was to land. It's not that I hated space travel it's just I hated fighting in space due to the fact that all I could do was pray that the ship wasn't destroyed. I hated my last performance during the recent battle as I clung to Kulu the entire time but it wasn't my fault that it was like the 3rd or 4th battle I had been in. I softly growled and punched the metal making it groan in protest.

Kulu walked over and his hand touched my helmet as I looked up at him smiling at me the way he always does. "Do not reminisce on the past fears," he spoke in that flowery tone of his making me love how noble their language sounded, "as you told me it was your lack of experience in that situation that made you fearful. It is understandable as that battle was fierce but even the hardened warriors who battle on the ground will gently flinch during their first few battles. You did very well Aeia." He purred softly, well more of a rumble from his chest that made it sound like rolling thunder. I could not help but smile as he always made me feel better no matter what.

"Thanks dad." I said softly as calling him that was still new to me but he knew it would be awhile before that was far more common than Kulu or Gammameed. I turned to him and my purple eyes danced as I had no idea where we were going. "Will you tell me where we are going? Just even a hint?" I pleaded softly as I took my place beside him, we were going to be there for almost a month so I might as well know where we were going.

"It was abandoned early in the war but it reminds me of a few coastal cities on Sangheilios sadly I'm here for the business aspect but I will get my few moments of pleasure here." He said with his smirk as the phantom shook as it slowed but once those doors opened the smell of salt hit my nose. The beach! I thought happily and moved ahead of Kulu to see where we were. I was as eager as a kid finally reaching the beach after a long car ride.

Kulu chuckled as I looked at the buildings around me it looks like everyone just vanished. "Yes Aeia it was like this when we arrived… very disturbing as the humans left this place not even to defend it." He said slowly as the group moved through the shell of the town. I heard the water but the sound of the steps of the Sangheili made my heart pound as it was so silent for a covenant occupied area. It was like they were letting the ghosts rule this area but I was just getting poetic now. Kulu spoke up again, "We use this place to train more basic skills that we have slacked on."

I took one look at the beach and the tropical paradise that it was and I looked at Kulu with a frown and spoke with disbelief, "Training my ass this is just an excuse to have a vacation without taking time off." Kulu chuckled and grinned at me as he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Now Aeia you are in the presence of others be respectful to your superiors." He said in the light tone implying that I should half listen depending on the time or place, unlike the UNSC… that or he just gives me the special treatment.

"Yes Gammameed." I said softly as I walk around with him but I kept glancing at the city. Like hell I'm staying in my armor. I thought and then smiled up at Kulu as I walked beside him and he clearly saw that.

"What do you want Aeia?" He said in his soft voice as he saw her wanting smile.

"When Fido… I mean Kra gets here can we go exploring? I figured you would like me to be monitored without me hanging onto your coattails."

Kulu looked at me pondering my proposal and simply replied, "Only if Kra wants to."

Kra looked up at me and Kulu as he approached us with the others, "If I would like to do what? If I may ask?"

I simply grinned at him, "Exploring of course." Fido nodded at that response and I grabbed his wrist and pulled. I waved back at Kulu informing him I would be back eventually. We ran into the ghost city before Kra spoke up.

"Alright Aeia why are we really out here?"

"Alright copper you've got me." I said dramatically before chuckling, "I could not resist the feminine urge to shop!" I said with amused excitement.

Fido looked at me with a curious look, "Why?"

"Because I don't want to be in my armor the entire time I'm here...," The puzzled look on his face meant I needed to explain further, "It's a human thing but I mean would you want to be trapped in your armor the entire time you were in such a tropical place?"

He thought for a few moments, "I suppose I wouldn't but your species is weird but interesting but still weird."

"I know." I replied as we walked into a store.

"I'm just here to hold your things aren't I?"

"Yep," I said as I grabbed some clothing "wait here."

Shopping montage! –No just kidding-

I heard Kra sigh before speaking up, "So besides not wanting to wear your armor is there any reason for this?"

"Nope I just want to look pretty." I said walking out and showing him another outfit.

"But sister you're already pretty and I do like that color on you. Why is it you're showing far more skin?"

"Must you question everything I do?" I said as I picked up a few more clothing and grabbed a duffle bag to carry my armor in.

"But Aeia it's fun to hear the colorful tales and things come from your mouth."

I rolled my eyes as we walked down the street singin doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo I blinked as I realized I had that song now stuck in my head. I startled Fido by starting to sing it out loud and I saw that goofy grin on his face as he held back laughter. That laughter only came out when I began dancing silly but I grabbed his wrist again and dragged him into another store.

"Where are we now?"

"Petco," I replied as I headed down a few isles, "Wait there!"

I picked out the largest collar I could find as I was grateful for alien domesticated pets and I went to the id maker and typed in his information. Name: Kra' Tondumee. Space. 'Fido'. Space. Sangheili. Space. Home: Sanghelios. I smiled at it and attached the id to the spiked collar and headed back to Kra. "Hey Kra I got you a present! Close your eyes and lean down."

He did so and I walked over and it fitted nicely around his upped neck but it was in a place where it wouldn't bother him if he looked down. He opened his eyes once he heard me back away and I watched his tale sway, "What is it?"

"A collar, you ever wonder why I gave you the nickname Fido?"

"At times," He said as he looked in a mirror at the collar around his neck.

"Fido is a popular name for domesticated animals simply called Dogs. They are known as 'Man's best friend' since the human race can simply be called Man as a whole and you're my best friend you are technically man's best friend." I smiled at him as he smiled back with his tail moving happily from side to side.

"Thank you Aeia." We grinned and headed back to the beach to show off to the others… but I soon stopped and pulled Kra into a cyber café. I began to mess with the computers to see if they were still working and to my surprise one was. "So what are you doing?"

"Something…" I clicked the internet button and Google popped up and I blinked twice as I was surprised, "Wow there's internet."

Fido looked over my shoulder and cocked his head, "What's a Goo-gull?"

"Something," I pulled my notebook out of the duffel bag, yes I carry that thing everywhere, "something very good." I plugged it into the jack and went to my email.

"Are you contacting someone?"

"Yep." I said as I sent myself an email and then I played the waiting game as I downloaded a few things that I had to show the boys later… maybe a butt load of movies. Soon the screen shifted as Lycurgus appeared on the screen and I smiled.

"Mary!" He said happily, "I'm so happy to see you that if I was human I would hug you!"

I chuckled as I quickly introduced him to Kra as I did not want anyone to detect the internet or Lycurgus. He was happy when I gave him plenty of data to look over and he gave me data in return. "I'm sorry to be so quick about this Lycurgus…"

"I don't have time to send myself back so… I'll be hitchhiking with you till you can. The others do miss you." Lycurgus said as he went from the computer to my notebook and began to organize items.

"I know and welcome back Lycurgus." I said softly as I turned off the computer and looked at Kra, "Tell no one."

"I wouldn't dream of it Aeia." He said softly as we finally headed back home.

Tallas, Oran, Tama and Tul (Fang, Snake, Tiger and Thunder) walked from the base down the beach as they had escorted Kulu to the base and he did not want them to stand around to listen to him talk with other Field Marshals. For Tallas being near the water reminded him of home and he was resisting the urge to just jump in the waters.

"Where do you think those two are?" Tul asked as the three others had to look up at him.

"I don't know and sometimes I don't really care." Tallas huffed as he found himself in so many fights with her along with acting as her babysitter.

"Hey guys!" They saw the only human in the area wave at them as she ran over with Kra, "We're back!"

The 4 of them looked at her with incredulous looks at her new appearance. The bow was still on top of her head but her hair was a little more tamed than usual. She wore a dark green bikini but they had no idea what she was wearing, on her hips was a makeshift skirt as on the left leg it ended above her knee and showed off her right thigh. She was pale even by human standards but Tallas already knew that but he noted the small amount of hair under her arms.

Tallas noticed Daimas walk over smiling at Aeia who only smiled right back, "Aeia you look interesting and exotic… if those are right words to use." He said taking a glance at Tallas.

"Thank you Daimas you are too kind." She replied smiling at him surprising Tallas it was Oran who spoke first.

"Look Daimas we were just about to go and I suspect your team is looking for you so let us enjoy our time." He said with a curt tone in his voice but strangely Daimas relented and departed.

They spent the remaining daylight in the company of each other as it was relaxing to be by the ocean and hear its gentle sway as the waves hit the sand and rolled over the beach. The cracking of the wood of the campfire distracted them from absorbing the noise. Tallas reminisced of the past as it felt right to do as he lay in the sand and stared up at the stars as Aeia killed the fire and the sky sudden burst to life. Tallas met Tul' Kusovee on request of his father discovering that Kusovai, his sub-commander, had a sibling they came from the western inland far past the forests Kulu's clan lived near. Oran' Losee was rather small and he actually met him when he went to the academy but Kulu pointed out as you need a range of men in a unit as Oran had the skills of a Kig-Yar in sniping but possessed the honor and courage of his own, his clan came from a smaller continent on Helios.

Tama' Suomaee was an insubordinate youth and highly aggressive as most believed he possessed in his bloodline a D'urok, an aggressive spirit as sages said or primitive line of Sangheili as the scientists said, he was a nomad and was found by Sangheili from Vadum as a hatchling devouring fallen Sangheili fleeing the state of Vadum and all he knew was his name. Tama was an aggressive child as he constantly returned to the desert till one day he was dragged into the academy by 3 Sangheili. He was more trained to relax then to fight as they clearly saw his aggressive and primitive nature in one of the first few fights he fought. He killed the other student with little remorse and shocked the arena as he enjoyed the spoils of his kill.

Kra' Tondumee moved to Vadum when he was fairly young as he was from a clan that was close to Vadum. Kra is a Dul'thcan a creature that was said to mimic our own species and mate leaving either a Dul'thcan offspring or a normal Sangheili offspring. A Dul'thcan would be recognized by either a powerful long tail or ears but Kra possessed both leading most to believe he was a changeling. There is a fear for a Dul'thcan to walk upon all fours for too long they will become the beast…

Tallas looked back up at the stars as the others laid near him letting the ocean sing to them and the stars become beautiful once more as the arms of the Milky Way weaved through the sky. The group shifted and Tallas heard Aeia yawn and whisper a departure of sleep. Tallas was the last to stay awake as he pondered… We're they doing the right thing… Aeia had changed something that was ingrained into his being and it was beginning to unweave.

Snake stirred slightly and nipped something that was gently teasing his face; it was Thunder's foot. Thunder felt something tickle his foot pleasantly so he shifted in his rest and his elbow bumped against something, that something was Aeia's foot. Aeia stretched and shifted in her sleep as she kicked something, she kicked Tiger's leg, she rolled over stretching her arm and using it and something else as a pillow, she was using Fang's arm as a pillow. Tiger stretched and his hand gently brushed against something, it was Fido's tail. Fido smiled in his sleep as something moved against his tail quite nicely then huffed and nuzzled something in front of his face, it was Fang's foot. Fang felt something tickling his foot and moved up a little but felt something soft brushing his mandibles, it was Aeia's hand, Fang gently nipped it.

"YEEEEOUCH!" Aeia screamed waking up as what Fang considers gentle is still hard for a human. That woke up the others as they looked at Aeia, this strangely happened often as they would find themselves sleeping like this. Aeia glared as she rubbed her hand, "Alright we need to get an alarm clock or find a different way to sleep."

Tallas POV

Aeia had changed into a blue outfit today also took a group picture but she began her morning log in which we all constantly interrupted her making sure we were seen and heard. We ended it with all of us saying goodbye as I felt wonderful for the weirdest reason. We joined the others for the morning meal as Aeia joined Kulu who again had to be in another meeting. I watched her rest her head against his arm as the other ranking men joined Kulu. I knew most of them looked at Aeia with disgust but kept their mandibles locked lest they anger a Field Marshal.

I watched her finish her meal and give him a hug before returning outside I soon followed as she was dancing with the water; jumping out of the way before it could touch her feet. I grinned as I slowly got behind her a good distance before running and picking her up and falling back into the water hearing her screech was worth it. She looked at me as she was soaked and moved hair out of her face, "Thanks Fang…" She said with clear annoyance in her voice.

"You are so very welcomed Aeia." I replied back as we walked out of the water and I saw her eyes widen as she noticed us.

"Umm why are you guys naked?" She replied with an awkward look upon her face and a shade of red upon her cheeks.

Tul looked at himself and then replied, "Yes… why? Should we be wearing something?"

Kra looked at her embarrassed face and how she squirmed; I softly smiled as it was… endearing… it made me hate her a little less… I certainly wasn't going soft. Kra spoke up, "Different cultures and besides I learned that humans sexual organs are outside of their body though… I think that's for the males…" he finally raised his hands in surrender but not before saying, "Humans are weird!" and we all agreed with that.

I saw her put eyewear around her eyes and went back into the water as she was clearly done with the embarrassing conversation. She soon surfaced and waved calling us all in and I ran in diving under the water and opened my eyes, the salt stung a little but it was bearable. I surfaced and splashed Aeia but I did not realize the childish splashing would ensue. I grabbed her from behind and her giggling erupted from her as I tossed her into deeper waters.

I dove after her as she swam below the waves and I felt at home as the clear waters lit the way as we swam. I followed Aeia as she explored the local waters and the colorful reef; the look upon her face was joy as she felt the freeing effects of being in the water. It was too late when I realized I was staring at her as I watched her mane move around freely like the sea plants. She looked at me and pointed up as I saw her cheeks grow red, swimming over I grabbed her and we surfaced taking in the air.

Kra swam over and she took that opportunity as she grabbed his shoulders happily exclaiming, "Dive! Dive! Dive!" I watched Kra plunge beneath the surface of the water I headed to the shore as the sun was around the peak of the sky and I closed my eyes as the warm rays ran over my body. Soon that quiet concentration was interrupted by Aeia's giggles as she and the others exited the water. "I think we should explore!" she suggested and I just smirked as I agreed with her.

Once we put something on our legs then Aeia was happy to go exploring and we headed into a nearby jungle. She pointed out the avians that flew overhead and how they were colorful in appearance along with their songs. I watched a few large black birds dance through the trees. We headed in deeper and flying insects danced around but once we entered a clearing and took one more step it was like a snowstorm of colorful butterflies as Aeia called them. Like snowflakes once stirred up by the wind they began to land on our salt covered bodies. I noticed the black birds covered by the white ones and once a smaller bird went to pluck up a butterfly the black bird devoured the smaller one.

Aeia giggled and pulled me along as I was distracted by the rogue looking birds and as we went deeper the butterflies got bigger and bigger. One large one landed on her back and I laughed softly as she had wings only for a short time till it flew away. I looked at her again and caught myself staring but those heretical thoughts danced in my head and my hearts pumped faster. I mentally snarled as she was a human… scum to my kind but… she proved herself of the skill she possessed as a fighter and she took the time to learn our language. I watched her talk to Kra in our own language but my eyes were trained on her mouth 'I wonder what her lips feel like…' I was shocked at that thought as it shook me and I decided I was going to get laid once I returned back to High Charity or some other Sangheili area.

It was dark by the time we headed back to the base and I glanced at Kra as he carried her upon his back as she slept. I kept telling myself that she was scum and she wasn't worth it, glancing up my eyes fell upon Daimas who was looking at Aeia. I softly growled toward his direction he left but the feeling of something bad never left me. We laid down and I watched the stars again but I could see a bird dancing upon the air from the sea and closed my eyes as dream freed me. Though the sleep was not uneventful as I had a dream of the birds and the butterflies both watching a blood red one each waiting to strike…