p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil laid on their bed, eyes half-lidded, lazily watching Ga'ton tend to his wounds. Caihtei was positioned next to her, staring up at the ceiling. "Now what do we do?" Noyeil asked softly as he huffed gently and mended himself./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""There needs to be a formal request sent to the Council of Ancients, Noyeil," he sighed. Ga'ton knew they would be summoned before the council. "Be prepared to go in front of them. You'll have to answer for your actions," he continued solemnly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton looked down at the floor and fiddled with his medical supplies. "You look concerned, mate," Noyeil whispered softly. He continued looking towards the ground, not replying. She knew exactly why he was concerned. She would more than likely be punished for bringing the tiny ooman back. It wasn't so much that she brought the pup back, but her intention of raising Caihtei like a yautja that would get her into trouble./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He glanced over his shoulder at her and murmured, "Best case Noyeil, you will receive a reprimand from the Council." He focused back to mending his leg, he heard Noyeil stir behind him. "You are a respected hunter with an impeccable hunt record." Ga'ton continued as he finished wrapping his wound. "It might help that we are lifemates, but that is uncertain." He paused for a moment, turning towards her, she was sitting on the bed, with her knees up cooing at Caihtei. Ga'ton huffed at her, annoyed at her dismissal. "Worst case, you could be exiled or Caihtei could be euthanized." Noyeil head snapped up and she growled dangerously at Ga'ton. "You will not do anything to label yourself a ic'jit!" he hissed in response./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil stared at Ga'ton intently, "If I need to raise her as an ic'jit, I will do it," she snapped quickly. He looked away from her intense gaze, Noyeil looked back down at the infant in her lap and cooed again at her. "I made a vow, Ga'ton, I have no plans on backing down from it. If I have to do it as a rogue, then so be it," she asserted calmly. She watched as Ga'ton stiffened at her words. She meant every Paya be damned one. She would challenge an Ancient if needed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil removed Caihtei from her lap and laid the sleeping sucking down in the middle of the bed. She placed a claw on her mandible tapping it absentmindedly as she thought about how to best proceed. Ga'ton's golden eyes studied her for a moment while she was deep in thought. He knew what she was plotting. She was coming up with a cunning plan of action for them. Noyeil had always been exceptional at anticipating outcomes and thusly was always prepared and calm when the worst occurred. He pushed the thoughts of Noyeil out of his mind, her dull thumping continued as he finished tending all of his wounds. If he was lucky he'd get a few new scars from their mating battle. He started purring with arousal at the thought but caught himself in time./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her tapping stopped abruptly, Ga'ton whipped his head in Noyeil's direction, his dreads slapping noisily against his back. "You should put the request in on our behalf," Noyeil stated matter of factly. Ga'ton's golden eyes widened at her statement. Noyeil ignored him and continued, "You have more clout that I do," she stated artlessly while she waved her hand dismissively. She straightened and placed her feet on the floor. Her body protested, but she stood regardless. Noyeil paused and phlegmatically walked towards Ga'ton. He watched her as she sat down quietly next to him and placed the side of her head against his. "Putting in the request on our behalf means you agree with the decision to raise Caihtei as our own. It will mean more coming from you than from me," Noyeil continued softly, stroking his leg./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton raised his quilled eyebrow at her. "Are you trying to beguile me, Noyeil?" he teased as she continued to caress his thigh./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil's hand stilled, "That was unintentional, I would never trick you into getting what I want," she whispered delicately. Ga'ton continued to watch her skeptically, he huffed at her in disagreement. Noyeil tightened her grip on his thigh threateningly, "You know I prefer to beat you into submission, Ga'ton," she jeered as she started rubbing his muscular thigh possessively. "The look on your face when you know you've been beaten makes my victory so much sweeter," Noyeil purled teasingly in his ear./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton put his hand upon hers, stopping her movement. Noyeil straightened, staring at his hand on hers. "I will put the request in tonight on our behalf," he sighed as he stood, still holding her hand in his. "We will be summoned before the council Noyeil, there is no way this gets approved without a tribunal." He dropped her hand and somberly ambled out of their shared room. Noyeil sat still on the foot of their bed staring longingly at the door. She wished he had stayed with her a little longer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton gravely sat down at his desk. He knew Noyeil was right, a request on their behalf from him would help expedite things, maybe prove beneficial to his newly appointed offspring. He was an elder, his requests, like others of his rank, were reviewed immediately. Paya willing, the three of them would make it out of this alive. He pulled up the hologram at his desk, the red letters seemed much brighter this evening, he was focused. His heart pumped a tad faster, the only indication he was nervous. He pushed it aside and began drafting his request to the Council of Ancients./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"When he finished, he reviewed it twice, started on a third time and paused. There was nothing amiss with his request. He was delaying the inevitable, he closed his golden eyes and inhaled deeply. He pressed send./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He leaned back in his chair, eyes still closed, resting them. His cranium was sore on the inside. It had been a long day for him, and didn't go as expected either. His fighting and mating with Noyeil left him feeling exhausted physically. He was feeling consumed with anxious thoughts about their pup's future. He did not like these feelings he was forced to have. It made him feel restless, almost like an unblooded yautja on their chiva hunt. It was out of his hands now, waiting for the response was excruciating. He heard a notification come in, Ga'ton's heart accelerated at the sound and there was a pit in his stomach. His eyes snapped open and he quickly sat up in his chair. It was from the Council of Ancients. Instantly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He read the contents of the message and turned off his hologram. He slowly walked back to their bedroom, when he got there, he found Noyeil still sitting at the foot of the bed, holding her hands. Ga'ton moved in front of her, but she didn't notice his presence. She seemed deep in thought, so he cleared his throat, her green eyes snapped up to his. "The council wishes to see us tomorrow morning, we are to bring the suckling with us."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil's mossy eyes widened in surprise. "So soon?" she questioned as she dropped her gaze down to the floor, her gaze still distant. Ga'ton put his hand gingerly on her shoulder, offering his support./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Sei-i, mate," he replied hoarsely. Ga'ton ran his hand down her arm and clasped her hand in his. "We should sleep now, Noyeil." He did not like that she was still lost in thought, he purred for her, "The fate of our pup will be decided tomorrow and you will need your rest to fight for her right to live as one of us," Ga'ton rumbled as he pulled her to her feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil rested her forehead against Ga'ton's for a few moments. "Thank you," she breathed. Ga'ton purred his appreciation at her. They both moved silently to their respective sides of their bed, in the middle was their new pup, fast asleep./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil gathered the softest furs on their bed and kneeled near the sleeping ooman. "I'll make a nest around her with pelts," Noyeil whispered. Ga'ton stood by them, watching as she constructed the nest with care around Caihtei. Once Noyeil was pleased, she motioned for Ga'ton to join them. They both laid down next to their pup, after a few moments of stillness the lights flickered off and both fell into a restless sleep./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The next morning, Ga'ton awoke to a low purr and Noyeil pacing their bedroom, in her arms was the tiny, squirmy ooman. It was much smaller than any yautja pup he had seen, and he had seen many in his life. His body was sore from their previous evening, but he willed himself to stand. He strode to his mate and realized she was trying to calm the tiny suckling. The ooman wasn't making any sounds, but appeared to be restless and was wiggling around in Noyeil's arms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil heard him approaching. She stopped pacing and whirled her head in his direction. The decorative bands in her dreads snapped against her shoulder as she looked at him. She gently perambulated towards him. "Hold her," Noyeil commanded as she gently handed Caihtei to him, "I need to get ready," she continued dismissively./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Gaton's eyes widened, almost saucer like. He had never held a pup before, no female would ever allow it. He supposed it was different in this case since they would be raising the ooman as their own, but he felt out of his element. Caihtei tensed briefly after the exchange. Without any provocation she let loose a sharp wailing sound and began wiggling in his arms. His instincts told him to purr, it had always calmed an agitated female in the past, perhaps it would work on the tiny female pup./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He held her gingerly against his massive chest, she was so small and delicate compared to him, or any yautja for that matter. She squirmed on him as he held her close, he produced a low steady purr for her. After a moment or two, she stopped writhing and stretched her arms and belly against him. He watched with great interest as Caihtei's closed her eyes while she yawned and snuggled herself closer to him. He continued purring after she fell asleep on his chest. Ga'ton found that he quite liked having her close to him. She made him feel more powerful. She needed span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"him/span. She needed Noyeil too. For the first time since she had been thrusted into his life, he enjoyed her presence in it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="text-decoration: underline;"Translations/spanbr /Ic'jit - bad bloodbr /Paya - godbr /Sei-i - yesbr /Chiva - trial/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""There needs to be a formal request sent to the Council of Ancients, Noyeil," he sighed. Ga'ton knew they would be summoned before the council. "Be prepared to go in front of them. You'll have to answer for your actions," he continued solemnly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton looked down at the floor and fiddled with his medical supplies. "You look concerned, mate," Noyeil whispered softly. He continued looking towards the ground, not replying. She knew exactly why he was concerned. She would more than likely be punished for bringing the tiny ooman back. It wasn't so much that she brought the pup back, but her intention of raising Caihtei like a yautja that would get her into trouble./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He glanced over his shoulder at her and murmured, "Best case Noyeil, you will receive a reprimand from the Council." He focused back to mending his leg, he heard Noyeil stir behind him. "You are a respected hunter with an impeccable hunt record." Ga'ton continued as he finished wrapping his wound. "It might help that we are lifemates, but that is uncertain." He paused for a moment, turning towards her, she was sitting on the bed, with her knees up cooing at Caihtei. Ga'ton huffed at her, annoyed at her dismissal. "Worst case, you could be exiled or Caihtei could be euthanized." Noyeil head snapped up and she growled dangerously at Ga'ton. "You will not do anything to label yourself a ic'jit!" he hissed in response./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil stared at Ga'ton intently, "If I need to raise her as an ic'jit, I will do it," she snapped quickly. He looked away from her intense gaze, Noyeil looked back down at the infant in her lap and cooed again at her. "I made a vow, Ga'ton, I have no plans on backing down from it. If I have to do it as a rogue, then so be it," she asserted calmly. She watched as Ga'ton stiffened at her words. She meant every Paya be damned one. She would challenge an Ancient if needed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil removed Caihtei from her lap and laid the sleeping sucking down in the middle of the bed. She placed a claw on her mandible tapping it absentmindedly as she thought about how to best proceed. Ga'ton's golden eyes studied her for a moment while she was deep in thought. He knew what she was plotting. She was coming up with a cunning plan of action for them. Noyeil had always been exceptional at anticipating outcomes and thusly was always prepared and calm when the worst occurred. He pushed the thoughts of Noyeil out of his mind, her dull thumping continued as he finished tending all of his wounds. If he was lucky he'd get a few new scars from their mating battle. He started purring with arousal at the thought but caught himself in time./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her tapping stopped abruptly, Ga'ton whipped his head in Noyeil's direction, his dreads slapping noisily against his back. "You should put the request in on our behalf," Noyeil stated matter of factly. Ga'ton's golden eyes widened at her statement. Noyeil ignored him and continued, "You have more clout that I do," she stated artlessly while she waved her hand dismissively. She straightened and placed her feet on the floor. Her body protested, but she stood regardless. Noyeil paused and phlegmatically walked towards Ga'ton. He watched her as she sat down quietly next to him and placed the side of her head against his. "Putting in the request on our behalf means you agree with the decision to raise Caihtei as our own. It will mean more coming from you than from me," Noyeil continued softly, stroking his leg./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton raised his quilled eyebrow at her. "Are you trying to beguile me, Noyeil?" he teased as she continued to caress his thigh./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil's hand stilled, "That was unintentional, I would never trick you into getting what I want," she whispered delicately. Ga'ton continued to watch her skeptically, he huffed at her in disagreement. Noyeil tightened her grip on his thigh threateningly, "You know I prefer to beat you into submission, Ga'ton," she jeered as she started rubbing his muscular thigh possessively. "The look on your face when you know you've been beaten makes my victory so much sweeter," Noyeil purled teasingly in his ear./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton put his hand upon hers, stopping her movement. Noyeil straightened, staring at his hand on hers. "I will put the request in tonight on our behalf," he sighed as he stood, still holding her hand in his. "We will be summoned before the council Noyeil, there is no way this gets approved without a tribunal." He dropped her hand and somberly ambled out of their shared room. Noyeil sat still on the foot of their bed staring longingly at the door. She wished he had stayed with her a little longer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ga'ton gravely sat down at his desk. He knew Noyeil was right, a request on their behalf from him would help expedite things, maybe prove beneficial to his newly appointed offspring. He was an elder, his requests, like others of his rank, were reviewed immediately. Paya willing, the three of them would make it out of this alive. He pulled up the hologram at his desk, the red letters seemed much brighter this evening, he was focused. His heart pumped a tad faster, the only indication he was nervous. He pushed it aside and began drafting his request to the Council of Ancients./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"When he finished, he reviewed it twice, started on a third time and paused. There was nothing amiss with his request. He was delaying the inevitable, he closed his golden eyes and inhaled deeply. He pressed send./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He leaned back in his chair, eyes still closed, resting them. His cranium was sore on the inside. It had been a long day for him, and didn't go as expected either. His fighting and mating with Noyeil left him feeling exhausted physically. He was feeling consumed with anxious thoughts about their pup's future. He did not like these feelings he was forced to have. It made him feel restless, almost like an unblooded yautja on their chiva hunt. It was out of his hands now, waiting for the response was excruciating. He heard a notification come in, Ga'ton's heart accelerated at the sound and there was a pit in his stomach. His eyes snapped open and he quickly sat up in his chair. It was from the Council of Ancients. Instantly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He read the contents of the message and turned off his hologram. He slowly walked back to their bedroom, when he got there, he found Noyeil still sitting at the foot of the bed, holding her hands. Ga'ton moved in front of her, but she didn't notice his presence. She seemed deep in thought, so he cleared his throat, her green eyes snapped up to his. "The council wishes to see us tomorrow morning, we are to bring the suckling with us."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil's mossy eyes widened in surprise. "So soon?" she questioned as she dropped her gaze down to the floor, her gaze still distant. Ga'ton put his hand gingerly on her shoulder, offering his support./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Sei-i, mate," he replied hoarsely. Ga'ton ran his hand down her arm and clasped her hand in his. "We should sleep now, Noyeil." He did not like that she was still lost in thought, he purred for her, "The fate of our pup will be decided tomorrow and you will need your rest to fight for her right to live as one of us," Ga'ton rumbled as he pulled her to her feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil rested her forehead against Ga'ton's for a few moments. "Thank you," she breathed. Ga'ton purred his appreciation at her. They both moved silently to their respective sides of their bed, in the middle was their new pup, fast asleep./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil gathered the softest furs on their bed and kneeled near the sleeping ooman. "I'll make a nest around her with pelts," Noyeil whispered. Ga'ton stood by them, watching as she constructed the nest with care around Caihtei. Once Noyeil was pleased, she motioned for Ga'ton to join them. They both laid down next to their pup, after a few moments of stillness the lights flickered off and both fell into a restless sleep./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The next morning, Ga'ton awoke to a low purr and Noyeil pacing their bedroom, in her arms was the tiny, squirmy ooman. It was much smaller than any yautja pup he had seen, and he had seen many in his life. His body was sore from their previous evening, but he willed himself to stand. He strode to his mate and realized she was trying to calm the tiny suckling. The ooman wasn't making any sounds, but appeared to be restless and was wiggling around in Noyeil's arms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Noyeil heard him approaching. She stopped pacing and whirled her head in his direction. The decorative bands in her dreads snapped against her shoulder as she looked at him. She gently perambulated towards him. "Hold her," Noyeil commanded as she gently handed Caihtei to him, "I need to get ready," she continued dismissively./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Gaton's eyes widened, almost saucer like. He had never held a pup before, no female would ever allow it. He supposed it was different in this case since they would be raising the ooman as their own, but he felt out of his element. Caihtei tensed briefly after the exchange. Without any provocation she let loose a sharp wailing sound and began wiggling in his arms. His instincts told him to purr, it had always calmed an agitated female in the past, perhaps it would work on the tiny female pup./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He held her gingerly against his massive chest, she was so small and delicate compared to him, or any yautja for that matter. She squirmed on him as he held her close, he produced a low steady purr for her. After a moment or two, she stopped writhing and stretched her arms and belly against him. He watched with great interest as Caihtei's closed her eyes while she yawned and snuggled herself closer to him. He continued purring after she fell asleep on his chest. Ga'ton found that he quite liked having her close to him. She made him feel more powerful. She needed span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"him/span. She needed Noyeil too. For the first time since she had been thrusted into his life, he enjoyed her presence in it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="text-decoration: underline;"Translations/spanbr /Ic'jit - bad bloodbr /Paya - godbr /Sei-i - yesbr /Chiva - trial/p