Chapter 51: The Book

Authors Note: This story I have written may not be exact with the customs and culture founded by the Predator movies, comics, or stories but I have tried to stay in the area of their beliefs and ways. I have brought in elements from each of the categories and have combined them into one. I do not own Predator. Updates will be regular and changes will be made if any suggestions are made for me. Some of the mentioned items in the Yautja world are made up by me. Good Reading. This is from the original author and I will be sticking to it. Enjoy! :))))

Nala had the most stressful night she'd ever lived through. Ever since the meeting with Ras'Lech and Zanjui, her nerves were on edge, acting like open outlets that sparked electricity anytime she jumped or turned in surprise or shock. She imagined her excitement to read the Story of Creation ever since she was told, knowing she would finally be accepted into Yautja society. But things happened and now, she felt uneasiness rather than the happiness before.

In her room, she tried to take a cold bath or braid her hair to ease her anxiety but to no avail, having little effect. Dhm'Ni decided to stay with her for the night, sleeping with his arms around her like a protective shield. Each time Nala twitched and groaned, he would purr, making her body relax once again. But he knew he could only do so much. At least, he was here with her.

The next day came much too soon for Nala but she had no choice but to get up. Her body ached, unable to relax for the whole night. It took all her willpower to lay next to Dhm'Ni and not disturb him. In the early hours, she already had her tresses formed and washed her face. Dhm'Ni woke up in surprise that she was up earlier than him but he didn't complain. He let her get ready in silent peace while he did the same, wearing the minimum Awu'asa or leg braces, loincloth, and his small weapons. Nala had to wear all of her Awu'asa to be presented as a warrior when she reached the main planet of Homeworld.

When both were dressed, both headed to a private sector of the docking globe that its only purpose was to transport 'special' guests to the main planet. Nala spotted the differences quickly in a matter of seconds when they passed the junction between that and the rest of the docks. There weren't as many Yautjas walking around and those that were there were mostly guards or Arbitrators standing like statues. All were covered with masks but she couldn't help but feel their eyes on her. Now's not the time to lose your nerve.

"It's alright, Nala." Dhm'Ni loops an arm around her back and rakes his claws down her spine. "Don't be afraid."

She wasn't afraid after feeling a nerve quiver under Dhm'Ni's touch, even stronger when he grazed her spine. But she appreciated his gestures, smiling in the brilliance that made him blush a green shade. It wasn' far to reach the platform that led to a lift but instead of the usual one that goes up and down in ships and residences, it moves sideways like a flat escalator that she'd seen at airports back on Earth. As soon as she and Dhm'Ni turned around the corner, they were greeted by a whole party of friends she knew well. Aja, Dhyot'na, and Thr'ik stood on the far side, smiling upon seeing her come through. On the other side, Sya and Nei'hime waited near the opening of the lift, waiting for her to follow them. They would be the only ones coming with her so she would have to leave Dhm'Ni behind.

But it wasn't going to be easy.

Her eyes fixate on another small group of Yautjas that were standing idly next to Sya and Nei'hime. She recognized Ras'Lech and Zanjui right away. Their glamorous Awu'asa made them stand out like gods. Maybe not Paya and Cetanu . . . The images of her dreams with them reminded her of their superiority and she wondered if she'll ever look at anyone the same way again.

But as they got closer, she could hear a low growl from Dhm'Ni. She was tempted to look up and see his face but got her answer when she saw Lord Khupiee standing next to them. The uneasiness she felt all night long came back with a vengeance. She hadn't talked to Dhm'Ni about what they talked about since the Healers but with all that was happening in a short amount of time, it didn't even cross her mind.

Ras'Lech was the first to step up and greet the pair. "You finally made it."

They weren't late but Nala felt an apology was needed. "We're sorry for not coming sooner. Lots of complications arose."

"I'm sure there were." His eyes glanced at Dhm'Ni. "You know that you can't go with her."

Dhm'Ni nodded. "Of course." A part of him wanted to say 'pauk yourself' but that would mean a grave punishment for merely showing disrespect, much more directed towards the Patriarch. He lowered his head in respect for a few seconds and then turned to Nala, lowering down to see her blue eyes.

"You'll be okay?"

She nodded, making sure he could see her smile. She placed a hand over his beating heart, examining his colored skin that made him unique than the rest. "I'll be fine." It was silent for a moment, giving them the needed time to have with one another.

"Nala," Sya calls her. "We need to get going."

She sighs. "Of course."

She breaks free from him but Dhm'Ni tugs her gently before she could let go. He brings his mouth close until only she can hear him. "When you return, I want to discuss something with you. Privately." He softly purrs at the last word, sending a jolt of pleasure through her spine and in between her legs. Dhm'Ni held himself back from ravaging her as soon as she saw her blush. Only a growl from someone he couldn't determine who made the noise warned him to let her go. He does with a grunt of frustration but calms when she rubs his bare chest once more.

When their moment was over, Nala turned around and headed for the lift. When she saw her friends, she wanted to stop and properly greet them but the eagerness to get going was thick in the air so she could only bow her head to them to give her respects.

"Good luck, Nala."

Dhyot'na was the only one who spoke despite the glares she received from the other side. It mattered little to her. Nala's smile grew in width and she softly answered. "Thank you."

Her chocolate friend lowered her head, allowing her tresses to cover her face partially. Sometimes, she's reminded of Dhyot'te'ka and how he would similarly greet her. Her heart clamped down in sadness, remembering the last time she would ever speak to him. But she imagined if he was here, he would give his support.

Thr'ik and Aja stayed silent but their eyes were enough to tell her that they would have said the same thing. However, she did notice strange behavior from Aja that lasted for a split second. One of his lower mandibles twitched and his eyes lowered to the ground as if he was contemplating something. She couldn't do much though despite the temptation to ask if he was alright at least. Plus, that small behavior was gone, replaced with some sort of fake smile. Is he alright?

"Nala."

Ras'Lech called her this time and she knew she needed to get going. They weren't ready to waste time. She nodded and smiled once more before walking to Sya and Nei'hime. The door to the lift opened when the guards moved to clear a path. As a tradition, she would be the first to walk through as the one who would follow through with this important milestone. As soon as she took a step over the threshold, she froze upon hearing Zanjui.

"Remember the rules. And don't try to do something foolish." It was lined with seriousness but gentle at the same time. Like she wanted to let her know to pay attention. Getting advice from the Matriarch was a great gift for any warrior of any status. She bowed her head. "I understand."

A flicker of Zanjui's eyes was enough for her. Nala took one last look around before leaving the last to Dhm'Ni who walked behind them until the guards stopped him when he was only a few feet away. He watched her eyes flicker with a light in them that made them as precious as stones. He purred one last time, earning another in return before she finally entered the lift. Sya followed suit, leaving Nei'hime as the last one. For a brief second, he could feel her eyes on him. He didn't know whether it was a warning or she was conveying a message. The mask made it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Be calm. No harm will come to her.

Now, he was starting to freak out inside. That voice again . . . He looked around to see if anyone had the same reaction but everyone was motionless. They stood there as if nothing happened. Was it just me then? He looked back to the lift but the door was already closed and the left was already moving forward, heading for the main globe.

Just . . . what was that? He was starting to think that maybe he was hallucinating but it seemed too convenient. Every time it happened, the female Leader was always there. Some part of him believed that she had something to do with this. All her actions went against every logical explanation he could think of. Unless . . . there's something else. But with nothing more to do and everyone slowly leaving the platform, he felt it was best to get something to make his mind busy. Waiting for Nala would only stress him out all the more. He turned away but gave one last glare at his father before deciding to head for the training deck to blow off some steam.

Only the Patriarch, Matriarch, and Lord Khupiee were the only ones left in the empty are other than the guards watching on. Neither didn't turn or look at each other but a conversation took place.

"Do you have something to say, Lord Khupiee?" Zanjui asked, only hearing a series of grumble noises from him in the first few seconds.

"We've got the results from Kh'Cho about Nala's pregnancy test. It came back negative."

Ras'Lech grumbled. "So she's not pregnant."

Lord Khupiee shook his head. "No. But we need to take precautions since she and Dhm'Ni have no intentions of separating and there is talk that he might take her for a lifemate." It wasn't a discussion that he intended to have in such inconvenient times but he didn't know when another opportunity would present itself. And he couldn't get the idea out of his head, regardless of the 'talk' he had with his son.

"No."

That one word was so powerful that Lord Khupiee had to glance to Ras'Lech to make sure he wasn't making it up. He opened his mouth to make his case but he was shut down with glares from both of them.

"You will do no such thing." Zanjui made her words clear at a slow but determined pace. "It is her decision and hers alone. No treatments will be done."

"But why?" Lord Khupiee asks. "As much as I care for Nala, I want to ensure that the future is safe. Right now, I don't think it's right for her to get pregnant at the moment."

As quick as it came, he felt his cheek burn that stretched its entire length. It took a minute to register that he'd received a hard slap from Ras'Lech. He didn't even feel the recoil that strained his neck on one side. The shock of it was enough to make his body numb. He rubbed his cheek when the pain began to seep underneath his skin as he watched in shock at what transpired. He knew that the Patriarch has the right to inflict pain when necessary but he'd never thought it would happen to him. All the times he'd gone to discuss with them, it always went well. Now . . . this was new.

He opened his mouth once more but Zanjui stopped him, moving to stand next to Ras'Lech. "There will be no more discussion. The future is still uncertain and all we can do is help those who can." She glances at the empty slot where the lift was sitting. "Leave it at that."

After that, both left the platform to take care of other matters while Lord Khupiee stood there dumbfounded, trying to make sense of everything that was happening . . . and everything else that was falling apart.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The lift was short compared to the others but Nala felt like it was eons. It reminded her of the uncomfortable silence that you would get standing in an elevator with other people minding their businesses or checking out what's around them. It was only the three of them but the feeling was still there . . . maybe more so with Nei'hime. She could never explain why she always was uneasy around her. Nala hoped it would fade after some time but to little avail. Just be glad she's on your side . . . is she?

The lift comes to a halt and the doors open to a completely different world that she never thought existed. Leading from the lift, it was a long hallway that wasn't made of metal like the others. This one was more earthy, having a dull brown color with light sediments decorating the top and bottom. More guards lined up near the walls, standing in front of pillars that held the structure of the hallway.

Everyone exits the lift and starts the long walk through with Sya and Nei'hime following. She felt a bit nervous but curious at the same time. The walls were decorated with massive details of Yautja writing on every part of it except for the middle of each section. It was clear that she could see some sort of drawings depicting battles of many Yautjas with several different preys, including the kainde amedha that she'd fought before on Earth. But they look much older than a few decades or even centuries. How old is this?

"These walls tell tales of great hunters who fought many seasons ago on many planets. In ooman terms, these canvases are more than a thousand years old." Sya mentioned, seeing the curiosity in Nala's eyes over the pictures. Nala looked closely at another one as they passed by.

"They look amazing."

"Yes . . . They are."

Nei'hime spoke, sounding more intrigue than Nala was. She looked upon the carvings herself and saw the history of the Yautja race. But unlike many others that have come through and felt pride at seeing them, Nei'hime felt nothing more than dread and regret. She had to push aside those feelings for now. Sya was not oblivious to the sudden change in her posture, noting her tighten her fists hard. He ignored it for now. The female wasn't about to give up her secrets so easily. He would have to earn her trust if he's to get anything at all.

Finally, they reached the end of the hallway, greeted by two more guards with much heavier looking Awu'asa that made their chests too big for themselves. Nala wondered how important the Story of Creation is if they had assigned so many guards. When she tried to take another step, the guards moved quickly out of the way, revealing another door with similar design like the walls. That was easy.

"Proceed."

One guard reached for a small panel and pressed a few codes that cranked the door to open. The horrible screeching sound it made was scratching at her eyes like claws, worse than they were more sensitive now. She figured that the system was old if it made such a sound.

Nala hesitated to go through but a small nudge from Sya from behind got her moving, entering into a small room that was like a transition from one area to another. The door closed behind them with a slam, making her jump. The locks clicked shut, allowing the next door to open. Only this time, it had two sets lining against one another. The first was solid as the previous ones but it revealed another that was see-through glass. It surprised Nala greatly. She looked through in curiosity but her sights weren't the greatest.

"Nala." She turns around to Sya. "We can't follow you in. From this point on, you're on your own."

Her jaws clenched but she knew this would happen. The Patriarch and Matriarch made certain to tell of the proceedings and repeat them enough that her brain couldn't help but remember her. They would still be there to watch her but they can't be in the same room. She needed the most privacy to read it. After a minute, she nodded her head. "I understand." She watched him smile and rub her chin with his hand.

"You'll do fine."

He smiles, making her do the same. She glances over to Nei'hime for some reason. She was watching them but Nala sensed something else . . . like she wanted to do the same and give her support. But she stayed there, not inching any closer. Sya lets go of her as Nala faces the glass door, waiting for entry. There was a beeping sound when she stepped in front of it that lasted for a few seconds. When it stops, the glass door slowly opens and she steps inside. With the door closing behind her, she finally could look at what was inside. She was in awe the moment her eyes laid in the room.

It was the size of a temple, adorned by many more designs and carvings of battles than even the hallways. There was so much going on that her head was hurting from looking at it for too long but she had much appreciation for it. But the greatest thing she saw inside was a staircase leading up to a small slab. That must be where I need to go.

Cautiously, she walks to the base of the steps and starts the climb. It didn't appear to be a lot of them but the slow pace she was going at made it longer than it was. Either way, she made it to the top, standing over the slab. There was some sort of item laying on the top like a book of some sort, designed with the greatest details of gold and red. Wow . . .

But her eyes gazed up and saw another carving like the others . . . only this one was different. Instead of a battle, it depicted two Yautjas standing on either side with their arms raised to the top. The right one was a male wearing black Awu'asa while the other was a female with white Awu'asa. Immediately, she recognized them. Paya . . . and Cetanu? She compared the images with the dreams of them and the similarities were spot on. So this is them . . .

She looked closer and saw Cetanu was holding a black sword while Paya held a white shield, assuming that these unique weapons were theirs. But the carving became confusing when she looked up to where they were raising their hands, revealing the same three-dotted triangle symbol that she remembered in her shoulder cannon training. She concentrated harder on it, noting that she'd seen it before somewhere. She shook her head and faced down towards the book on the slab.

This must be what I should read then . . .

She hesitated for a second over the book before she carefully wrapped her fingers around the edge, lifting it. Surprisingly, it was much heavier than she anticipated but managed to flip it over. She stared down at the page with words written in the Yautja language. She did have some time to study it but her knowledge was still limited. Luckily, they were surrounded by drawing, much like the earlier ones. Guess Yautjas love images don't they? She sighed. Let's get this over with.

The first page talked about how the universe was nothing more than darkness and nothing existed. No planets . . . no stars . . . no life . . . The drawing was nothing more than a black blob that looked like someone just threw paint all over it with no real care. She flipped to the next page where things got interesting . . . somewhat.

It showed two beings that were created through the darkness and were the first living beings that ever roamed the universe. It was sort of weird for Nala that something could be created out of nothing but she was human and this was about gods and impossible things. The picture showed white and dark beings that slowly formed into humanoid creatures. It wasn't until she turned to the next page that she read it was the first mention of Paya and Cetanu.

The drawing was magnificent as she would have expected to be for gods. Paya and Cetanu were joined together by hands, signaling their union. The story goes on about Cetanu cutting through the darkness with the same black sword she saw before, destroying bits of it. Paya comes in and raises the white shield towards the pieces, shaping them together to form an orb. Nala flipped the page again and it showed the orb growing until it was the size of a planet. The next drawings showed them doing this process again and again until an entire system was created, filled with life.

Nala bobbed her head from one side to the other. So in short, Paya and Cetanu created the universe and are revered as gods. Another image showed both of them lowering their weapons towards a group of Yautjas, honoring them. Like knighthood? The text revealed that Paya and Cetanu created the Yautjas to guard the universe, to uphold their honor and become the greatest warriors that ever existed. She looked like the warriors scattered across the universe, hunting worthy prey while Paya and Cetanu sat on their thrones, watching from above in pride.

Geez . . . Crazy stuff I would have thought before.

Another page flipped over and Nala noticed it was the last one. This was different from the others though. The last drawing shows a dead Yautja lying on a slab much like the ones the Healer's use with Paya and Cetanu gathered around him. Both with the same weapons from before with the black sword and white shield. Cetanu held his sword over the body and saw the body turn into black dust. This struck in her heart like a heavy stone, suddenly thinking about Dhyot'te'ka being that dead Yautja. Is this why they couldn't tell me what happened to his body afterward? Now, she felt like an ass acting the way she did. It was part of the Story of Creation that she couldn't know until now.

She continued and saw the black dust was floating towards Paya as she raised her shield to it. When the dust touched it, it vanished and formed into a new being that was small and helpless, looking like a baby Yautja or a pup as they called while the soul of the dead Yautja rose with them. She realized the meaning of the story . . . that Paya and Cetanu were the gods of life and death, showing their story of how they built the worlds that they lived in now and how the Hunt is to prove to the gods that they were worthy of the journey in the afterlife. To be reborn once more and live among the great warriors they worshipped.

Somehow, it made her smile. Maybe Dhyot'te'ka is watching over us? Even now? She could still smell the chocolate in the air. It made her smile all the more.

She turned her attention back to the book and read a small text that was in the very corner of the page. It took a while to form the words but she got it eventually.

"Kire . . . the Blade of Death. And the Izel . . . the Shield of Life."

She hummed. So these were their weapons? Looks cool in my opinion. She thought about her dream when she saw them for the first time but never recalled seeing the same weapons with them. She thought it was strange. She glanced up to the wall once more but she noticed something else. In all the Story of Creation, no one thing mentioned the story behind the triangle symbol. Nothing at all . . .

But with no other pages to look at and a headache that was coming on, she figured it was the end of it. She carefully closed the book and stared at it for quite some time, raising her arms to slap them against her sides.

"So that's it. Nice story but I don't see the urgency to read it now." She sighed, defeated somewhat. "Oh well . . ." She turned around to head back, placing her foot on the first step of the stairs.

Wait.

Nala stopped immediately, frozen in time. Her eyes widened and a soft gasp escaped her.

Not yet . . . Turn around

She started to feel her heart race. The voice again . . . now? She didn't know what to do but she was drawn to follow the voice that once helped her find Dhm'Ni and kept her feeling safe at times she needed it. Slowly, she followed what it told her but didn't see anything different.

Go to the slab.

She stepped closer but stayed wary in case. She went back to where the book laid.

Place your hand underneath. Find the symbol.

She shook her head. Find what symbol? She thought it was getting ridiculous but she looked anyway. Going on one knee, she felt around the edges of the slab, hoping to find something. Like on cue, her fingers felt indents that dug into the slab. She lowered her head enough to see the same triangle-dotted symbol that was small enough that no one would have noticed it. What?

Press on it.

The voice insisted and she did, pushing as hard as she could. Sure enough, as soon as she did, she heard a clanking sound from within the slab. To her shock, a piece of it began to emerge out, almost hitting her face. She jumped out of the way as a puff of smoke shot out. She coughed when she inhaled some of it.

"Son of a bitch. What the pauk was that?"

She waved her hand to clear the air from the remaining smoke. When it was done, she saw that the piece had extended outward, containing something that was wrapped in a small piece of fur. Huh? Something hidden? From the shape and size, it appeared to be a book like the one on the slab. Confused, she got a closer look and saw a few binding strands around it to keep the fur in place.

Pick it up. Unwrap it.

The voice rang again but Nala was hesitant. She poked at the thing a few times to deem if it was safe or not. When nothing happened, she built up the courage and picked it up. It was light and sturdy. She reached for the bindings and the fur fell off, revealing to also be a book but something was off about it. The edges and the skin were riddled with tears from old age, running through the tough hide that appeared to be leather. It was much thinner than the other book but the pages were different. They felt strong and cold like metal, unlike the fragile paper from the book on the slab. She turned it around, moving it back and forth for a better view. "This is getting weird."

When she turned it all the way around to the front, she was met with the same triangle symbol on the wall, brightened by the red color that filled it. That symbol . . . why this symbol? What is this anyway? She glanced at the edge curiously. Well . . . there's only one way to find out. Her fingers reached the edge and lifted it a few inches. Her heart raced to know what it was.

Don't!

She stopped. Her body felt like a jolt ran through it. Her tresses and the rest of her hair stood up in goosebumps. It was the first time that the mysterious voice shouted at her like that. She lets go of the edge and holds the book in the air, waiting.

Not yet. Keep it hidden. Keep it safe . . . until the right time comes. Very important you do this.

Nala blinked her eyes a couple of times, looking down at the book one more time. This day was getting stranger by the minute but for some reason, it's like everything is connected. Her eyes drew to the symbol, studying it for a while. She shook her head once more.

Why is this so important?

Hello Everyone!

Well, well, well . . .

Another book is hidden in the shadows and a great read about Paya and Cetanu. But what does it have to do with everything that Nala is experiencing? Does it have to do with the Story of Creation?

Seems like Nala has a 'funny' feeling about it but who knows? From what I can only tell, we've barely scratched the surface of the mystery. I wonder if all of your brains are still functioning after this. I hope I don't make you all brain dead lol (on a serious note: If you do, rest for a minute and breathe :))

What is going on?

Find out when Chapter 52 will be posted by next Friday at the latest.

Thank you NeverNeverLady, IanAlphaAxel, and CLTex for the wonderful reviews on Chapter 50. I hope everyone is doing okay as well. And I hope to play with all of you on Predator: Hunting Grounds. Still have to wait for my preorder to come . . . Bastards . . . ;)

But stay safe and make sure to wash hands as much as possible. Stay healthy! :D

Thank you and Good Hunting! :))))