Disclaimer: Ooman is the sole work of blacktalon117 and the producers of the movies

'HE'S MINE, AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF I LET YOU KILL HIM TOO!'

It was proving hard to forget those words, and Ti'kon wasn't sure if he wanted to.

She had yelled them like a war cry.

Yautja females claimed males in such ways. The words, 'You will be mine', 'I have chosen you', 'serve me male', 'come to me male', and sometimes simply 'mine', had all been uttered to him. He was an Honored Warrior with many trophies. He was on the council of elders, his Awu'asa, full body armour, was gold as a symbol of his status. Females came to him when they were in heat, knowing that any sucklings that were sired would be strong and healthy.

But the females claim on him would only last for a night, as was normal among Yautja... unless a couple claimed that they were life-mates.

Life-mates were uncommon, as it was believed that variety was needed in the gene-pool to make the Yautja stronger as a race. However, most of the elders that made up the council were life-mated, as they had already done their duty and sired many young. They had proven themselves in battle countless times, and deserved the right to pick one female to be theirs for their remaining years. Life-mates were also common in Honored warriors that were not on the council. Although, if a blooded warrior decided to claim a life-mate, it would be met with much confusion, as newly blooded warriors were simply too...hormonal to settle for one when they could have many.

Not that any would dare to dispute a life-mate claim.

Such a bond was sacred.

"She has claimed you, Uncle."

The young blood spoke up from his corner of the cell. He was surprised K'on had spoken, as he seemed too absorbed in his current activity. Glaring at the Oomans who were the in the process of fixing the wall that he and the very small female had brought down.

When he and K'on had awoken from their drudged sleep, they were surprised to find themselves in the same cell...with the child maker.

"Do you feel claimed, Uncle?"

K'on turned from his glaring, to observe him with the female.

Thinking on the question, Ti'kon couldn't help looking down at the small creature he held in his lap. He had awoken hours ago, to find the small bundle pressed against his back.

He had moved away, but even in her sleep she followed him, wrapping herself around him when she got close enough.

Why did she follow his heat and not K'on's?

When she had molded herself to his side for the fifth time, and he noticed K'on trying to hide his grin, Ti'kon decided it was best to give up, and lifted the small body into his hold.

And that's where she was currently.

Her slight weight was nothing to him, as she rested her head on his chest, over his heart. One small hand also lay on his chest, while the other curled around his arm. Her legs were drawn up, resting against his side. He had been relieved when he noted that the Oomans had bound the child makers middle. The extensive wound should have always been bound, and not left out in the open...for her to see.

He had not forgotten the small female's reaction when she discovered the wound.

He purposefully placed one hand on the small of her back in his hold. Hoping it would take some of the strain off her stitches.

Every now and then, the female would make a soft sound, just audible to him, and nuzzle her face into his chest.

"Yes, I believe I do." He finally answered his nephew.

K'on grunted, and returned to glaring at the working Oomans.

"It's unnatural, she will never compare to a Yautja female. Even with all of those scars... I can just imagine how they would look on a real female."

K'on shuddered, and Ti'kon had no doubt that that the young blood was imagining it. The anger he felt at the careless comment hit him unexpectedly.

"And you would know what a Yautja female feels like, young blood?"

Ti'kon regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. It would take many more years of hunting and collecting trophies before a female would even think to approach K'on. And he had just reminded the hormonally driven young blood of this depressing fact.

K'ons eyes and head dropped in shame and submission.

"She may be Ooman, but there is a strength to her. You saw this when she helped break the wall."

K'on nodded, but remained silent, staring at the floor.

"You heard her when she said she was once strong. I think the Oomans hold her here because of it. And yet she still shows strength above her own pain to save me."

Ti'kon wasn't sure how he felt about that. A female had never sacrificed herself in such a way for him before.

"Besides if you find her so unnatural," K'on flinched as his uncle growled the word. "Then why did you purr to her when she was distressed?"

It was common for male Yautja to purr to females. It was a base instinct, and a survival tool. Yautja females tended to get violent when distressed, and carried away when mating.

A male learns at a young age that if in doubt... purr.

A males purr calmed a female when she no longer heard words.

If a female slashed at you with her talons during mating, simply purring would stop her instinctive fighting. If a female was injured when among a group of males, often they would all start purring in an automatic group effort to calm her.

"I am stupid Uncle, not blind. Even a Young blood like me knows an injustice when I see one," he huffed.

So, K'on was sulking now.

Ti'kon growled once in warning. The young one may have a hurt pride, but that was not an excuse to be disrespecting his elder. K'on flinched, nodding once acknowledging the warning.

In the silence that followed Ti'kon found himself inspecting the females hair.

With his free hand, he wove it between his talons.

'Pyode', he thought-soft.

It was very soft, and fine, very fine compared to his. It wrapped around his taloned hand like it was liquid.

Soft and light.

He wondered if the touching of hair had the same effect on Oomans as it did his kind. He didn't think so. When no reaction came from her, even in sleep, it confirmed his thoughts. He continued his exploration of the strands, figuring it was not sexual at all for her kind.

"What did she mean uncle?" K'on spoke, drawing his attention from the female. "When she said that she could give you her heart? What use would you have with that organ?"

"I do not know."

And he didn't.

Most of what the child maker had said made sense, but not that, and her talk of 'loving him'. When he returned to the Clan ship he would ask his clan's scribe if he knew anything of the Ooman word.

"I remember reading that ancient Oomans used to offer their hearts as sacrifice to the Gods, and that they believed Yautja to be Gods. Maybe she meant something like that, a gift to honour you."

K'on was technically right, but Ti'kon didn't think the Ooman meant it like that, her tone when she had said it was...strange.

"Perhaps," Ti'kon answered.

A young blood thinking about anything in depth had to be encouraged, as Ti'kon didn't think it occurred often. He returned his focus to the female, and continued petting her strange hair, it truly did fascinate him.

K'on watched him wearily, and he knew that his care for the creature surprised the young blood, as much as it did him.

"We are taking her with us when we escape, aren't we?"

The question should have given him pause.

At the very least he should consider it before answering.

"Yes."

And Ti'kon meant it.