Scar felt a low grumble in his chest. That had been the Ooman alright. His mate. He had come back for her. It taken him years to get the counsel to approve of his mating with that woman. She had changed. A lot. Had he taken too long in coming back for her that she had born a child with another?

The thought angered him. His mandibles flared a little behind his mask. He had marked her as his. Had made sure that no other would come near her. The tracker in the staff made it easy for him to keep track of her and her movements. He debated about killing the child and the Ooman who had touched what was his.

But it would be considered dishonorable. To kill the pup that was. But if he challenged the male she was with and won fairly then he would have her; the pup, though, would be sent away. The pup looked old enough to take care of themselves. He snorted turning his ship to the forest. His Ooman on his mind.

Lex frowned staring at the driver as they drove off the main road. Her hand gestured to Lia who drew the spear from its cloth. If the man was taking them to where they weren't to be he would have to die. They were all quiet the man seemed to almost sweat feeling the hostility of the women in his car.

Annoyingly it attracted the bugs. Since there were no windows or roof it felt like an onslaught. Lia looked back to make sure they weren't being followed. Her yellow eyes able to see far better than that of a normal human.

Which confused her on the shimmering she had seen earlier on the plane. "No one coming?"

"No seems to be clear." Lex seemed to relax some Lia thought did not. That sense of dread coming back to her. Instinct? Maybe Nerves? Shaking her head she ignored it. Coming to a stop when Lex told him to the driver looked at them curiously. Wanting to ask but Lex didn't give him the chance as Lia too followed spear fully drawn now handing it to Lex who took the lead into the lush green Jungle.

It was a long walk almost an hour through the thick brush and rough terrain. Lia, thanks to her mother, and the classes she was pushed through was able to keep her balance and make it through without issue.

They were wary of their surroundings. The bugs, snakes, predators, Lex was more wary on what might be out here that was bigger, blacker than night that shown like a pearl. It was enough to make her grip the spear tighter in her hands as she then crouched down and moved slower than before.

Lia followed suit. Maybe she saw something? Lia could smell something decaying. In a small clearing it was clear poachers had been there. The poor beast was even still alive. Skinned alive of its fur. shaking in shock and pain. Lex was about to keep going.

Lia could only pick up the big rock nearby with as much force as she could crushed the big cats skull ending the suffering it had been in before going back to her mother. Her morals and pride were too powerful for her to let something innocent suffer.

Lex could only cringe at the sound of the shattering of bone. It reminded her of Sabastian. Poor son of a bitch had two kids! They were grown now. Still had that damn bottle cap that she had given to them after that Hell in the Artic. Story was the mine just collapsed.

Lia wiped the blood on her pants. They kept moving. Lex was proud of her daughter.

No hesitation hesitation was what got you killed.

No sooner had this happened the could smell food, hear laughter, and drums. They had made it.

Scar dropped an Ooman letting them hang upside down skinned. He had a nice skull for a trophy. A bad blooded Ooman didn't deserve to live. The small pup had been shot in the head the man that had been the female's mate castrated and forced to choke on his own pride before rapping the woman and strangling her to death.

This had slowed him down from getting to his mate but if he had ignored it he would be no better than the Ooman who dishonored himself. Pulling out his tracker he made a small clacking sound. His mate sure knew how to move and fast. His chest puffed with pride. This time when they made love it wouldn't be on some dirty temple floor trapped in a small room for over an hour. He had made sure she hadn't touched the dirty floors.

He blinked. That was exactly 17 years ago on Earth. He swore. Pauk.

He had left his mate alone to raise their child! PAUK IT ALL!

Lia jumped turning hearing what sounded like a roar. Lex frowned as well. They had been enjoying their meal the village had offered. One villager smiled speaking in their tongue as Lia translated to Lex.

"She says it is nothing to fear it is the Jungles protector that has found a poacher. Hearing it's roar is to bring good luck."

Lex frowned. That didn't sound like no protector. She stood up looking. It wasn't possible. She fingered her cheek where the scar was. After all this time why come back?