They were grudgingly jogging in circles again, and Me'cre was watching all of them like a deadly statue. It had been days, and still Dumala did not return. Nicole felt like her insides were torn and her heart didn't beat as strongly without him. The amber-eyed yautja female was imposing, but Nicole needed to talk to her. She fell out of formation and walked right up to her, having to lean back her head to look her in the eyes. She felt the other alien and human eyes boring into the back of her head.

Growing increasingly nervous, she really couldn't come up with anything smart to say, "Dumala still hasn't come back."

"I am aware, now get back in line." The female didn't even look down at her.

"Please, can you send him message or something?"

She slowly glanced down at Nicole, "Why would I waste my time with it?"

"What if he never comes back?"

"He is still paying for you not to be touched. He will likely return."

"Hmm?"

The females mandibles widened some, irritated to have to explain, "He pays me not to let other males rut with you. Do not ask me why, as I don't have an answer. He likes you too much, and it is strange."

"But I told him I didn't want to see him or talk to him, and now he's been gone so long."

"He is honorable, and would listen to you. Did you say you *never* wanted to see him again?"

"No."

"Then he will return. Go away."

"So you won't try to contact him for me?"

The yautjas response was a low growl, and when she lurched forward, Nicole took off running. She kept in pace with the others and kept her mouth shut after that. Dumala had been coming to see her every day, even twice a day on occasion. Now that he hadn't in days, Nicole worried that something had happened to him. She worried that he was in trouble.

Dumala had never hunted oomans, but now applied himself to the task. The Sentinelese Tribe had their own island just off India and were highly known throughout history for their hostility towards outsiders. He could stalk them without worrying about exposing himself to more advanced ooman technology and cameras. One single ooman spotted him in the dense jungle brush. After that, the entire tribe was on edge.

Nicole had kicked him out after he'd been drinking, and he knew that was for the best. She deserved to be with a high-ranked male that could procure great trophies and protect her, and recently, Dumala was the opposite. He had hurt her, and his impressive skulls had all been won in the past, to impress other females. He sought out to prove that he was worthy of Nicole's affection.

Their flatbows had an impressive 33ft range, and as he dodged those, a sleek javelin powered through his right shoulder from behind. Dumala's hands tightened on the moss covered branch he was on, not about to let himself fall to the ground. The adrenaline rushed away the pain as he began to pull the length of it out of his body. He kept the weapon as he scanned the trees, trying to pick out the tribes best warrior.

There were some good specimens among the tribe-males that looked healthy, well-fed, and could wield javelins. However, the ooman that stuck out to him the most was a young and scronny male with a simple bow. The young male was either brave or stupid. While the others cowered behind trees and shot at him, or threw javelins only when his back was turned, the young ooman stepped closer to get a better shot at Dumala. With a booming growl, he throttled the javelin at the ooman's torso.

The young male flung himself away, but as soon as soon as he regained his footing, he drew back his bow. The arrow sank into Dumala's chest. It would have pierced his heart if a yautjas skin wasn't so thick. Dumala pulled the arrow from his chest, and stared down at the ooman as he gave a bellowing roar. The young ooman did not run away, and so Dumala had his prime target picked out.

He hunted without weapons, only using the arrows and javelins they used on him. He broke bones like toothpicks and slammed bodies into trees like they were weightless. When an ooman got in the way of his target, he crushed the older males skull in his hands. The tribe never lessened their attack, and Dumala could have easily wiped the entire island population out. He resisted the temptation and killed only three of them, and collected one skull-the one of the brave young male.

Even though the other girl didn't know English, she knew how to play chess. The over-exaggerated reaction from her when one of her pieces was killed was even entertaining. Nicole rarely had downtime with the other humans. But it just so happened that they were both on their period at the same time, so Me'cre let both of them into the recreation room. There were puzzles and games, books, and comfy chairs.

Only if they had a mental breakdown, were wounded, or on their period, did they ever get to see the rec room. It was a rare treat, but then the owner stepped into the room. Her amber eyes immediately landed on Nicole, and canned out her name. The other girl said something in a different language, though Nicole knew it wasn't anything positive. The girl looked upset, but also smug that Nicole still had to see a customer even on her period.

It might have just ruined her chance to actually bond with another human, but if she was seeing a customer, she knew exactly who it would be. Nicole strode forward excitedly, receiving an evil stare when she walked beside the yautja female. Nicole bowed her head and slowed her pace so that she walked just behind the owner. They reached a door and Nicole could hardly contain herself. She bounced herself up and down on her tiptoes as the door opened, eager to see Dumala again.

She stepped inside, but her stomach immediately twisted into knots. Standing in the middle of the room was a yautja male, but it was not Dumala. His skin was very green and sparsely mottled with grey and black, and he wore a leather armband with some other clan symbol on it. He stared at her with interest. Her heart dropped, realizing that Dumala must have stopped paying, and that this customer didn't even care if she was bleeding.

When he stalked forward and reached for her, she bolted. He easily ran and caught her around the waist, then drug her against him. She whined and shoved at his hands, but otherwise did not struggle. He lifted her over to the bed, bending her stomach over the thick pelt-covered gel mattress. Her heart was racing with fear, but she merely scrunched her eyes closed.

His hands slid over her back then grabbed at her hips, and he rumbled, "You are a docile thing, aren't you?"

Nicole gulped, waiting for him to shred her clothes.

Instead, he lowered himself over her, caging her small form under his body. His chest pressed against her back as he slid his elbos onto the bed. He bumped his hips against her lightly, like he was waiting for a hostile reaction. When his dreds slid off his shoulder, landing close to her mouth, he quickly jerked his head away. Nicole hadn't even moved.

He let out a purr then, "You are harmless, aren't you? I've always been told that oomans were beautiful and violent."

The stranger seemed like he wanted to test her. He roughly grabbed her forearms to hold her pinned, then he lowered his mouth to her back. She felt his mandibles spread over her skin, then his teeth pressed to her. He bit down, his teeth gathering skin in his mouth but not breaking the surface yet. It still hurt though, and even if he released her now, the skin would likely stay red.

Even though she didn't struggle, his hands tightened around her forearms and his jaws slowly added more pressure. Her fingers dug into the furs and she cried out as his sharp teeth sank into her flesh. She could feel the line of blood as it slid down the middle of her back. It burned and ached, but she didn't dare try to buck him off of her. She ground her teeth together and dealt with the pain.

When he removed his jaws and leaned away, Nicole whimpered, but stayed bent over the bed and he seemed satisfied with her behavior. "Good girl." he cooed.

He grabbed her arm to haul her upright, but she wouldn't meet his eyes, "I think an ooman would make an appropriate gift, if only we could find one as tame as you."

With that, he hauled her out of the room and up to the front of the store where Me-cre was waiting. He jerked Nicole forward and asked, "This one was a great demonstration, are you sure you won't part with her?"

"I'm afraid I can't..." Me'cre's tusks lifted as she scented the air suspiciously. She grabbed Nicole and spun her around, finding the bite, "You were not supposed to harm her!"

The male let out a ragged purr then said, "I was under orders to test a suitable ooman."

The yautja female snarled and shoved his shoulder, initiating a challenge. She stood at least two feet over his head, her body curvy but still full of muscle and power. He purred and averted his eyes, declining any confrontation. Me'cre turned her back to him, and ushered Nicole down the corridors. Me'cre was never tender, but this time as she healed Nicole's wounds, she harshly slapped on the healing cream and sprayed off the blood with cold water.