Disclaimer: Ooman is the sole work of blacktalon117 and the producers of the movies
Ti'kon maneuvered the outdated vessel as best he could onto the docking pad. The ship came to a sudden halt as he landed, jarring all its passengers.
He heard Little knife come awake with a snort, before she tumbled to the floor with a thud. A soft 'ow' could be heard from beneath the mist, making him smile. But this wasn't the time for mirth, he had a new mate to protect.
"K'on, bring the Lone warrior out." He ordered. "I will go first with Little knife."
The Young blood hurried off to do as he was told, while his mate stood up slowly from the mist. He went to her, taking her chin, he angled her face so her eyes locked with his. He tried to pour all of his worry into his gaze, hoping the seriousness of the situation got through to her.
"What's wrong?" She inquired, startled.
Ti'kon shook his head, this was too hard to explain without words, but he tried. He pointed to the ship's display screen, where you could see the huge docking pad they were in, along with the other Yautja ships.
"Oh, good," she said slowly. "We're here," she paused, "at your mother ship?"
She looked to him in question, and he nodded. The term she used was strange, but it was close enough.
"And you're worried because..." She paused, clearly thinking. "I may not fit in?"
Ti'kon nodded vigorously this time.
"Oh... Well, I have you, don't I? I'll be fine as long as I follow you," she declared.
Ti'kon felt something in him give then. Her trust in him was an honor, a balm to his pride. He pulled her to him purring, holding her as she stood. She wrapped her arms around his waist in kind.
"Hey now, Big guy, no need to worry so much. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. You know that."
He did, but it still didn't make the uncertainty go away. Taking her shoulders he gently separated their bodies, and not letting go of her shoulders turned her, leading them to the ship's door. He was not ashamed of their relationship and was determined to look as such, by keeping her close. When the door opened, he stood proud, and lead her down the ramp by his side, to the waiting High Elder, and his assembly. Which comprised of four guards and two of his fellow elders (one of them K'on's father).
"Greetings, Ti'kon," the High elder spoke. "Welcome back to the clan. I hope the journey, unlike the hunting trip, was uneventful."
Ti'kon was thoroughly confused. His elder was not full of rage as he had expected him to be, bringing a Ooman amongst them. Instead, he stood calmly in his deep red and gold robes, the perfect picture of Yautja serenity, and power.
"And this must be," he turned to Little Knife, only to pause as he sniffed. "Your new mate."
Ti'kon was so prepared for a confrontation, that he knew his mandibles were open with shock at the elders calm observation.
"Surprised, I see Councilor."
"Well, yes, High Elder...I was expecting a-"
"Fight? Well, if you had brought her here only two weeks ago, you would have had one. Would you like to hear a story Councilor?" He didn't even pause for Ti'kon's answer, he simply continued. "Two weeks ago, I received a report from the only surviving, newly blooded, warrior from a Kainde amedha chiva that took place on Earth. He was severely injured, but not alone. He had hunted the Kainde amedha-",he turned to look at Little knife, "with the help of a Ooman female, and he was requesting permission to bring her back to the Clan ship claiming she was his life mate, a bond being formed between them in battle too great to be ignored. I, of course, refused him. He was newly blooded and knew nothing of mating, I did not believe he knew what he was claiming. Upon my refusal, he declared that he was not returning then. He would stay with his Ooman mate, even though he was severely injured and facing death, unless he returned, he refused to leave the Child maker."
He stepped forward, closer to Ti'kon, his head bowed. looking serious, and every inch the elder he was.
"The warrior claimed that he was not alone in his choice of mate, that he knew of others with female Ooman partners. He told me all I needed to find evidence of this...trend, would be to track down Lone warriors, and much to my disbelief, my family records."
He paused and brought a thick scroll form beneath his robes, and unrolled it. The parchment fell to their feet to unravel some more.
"This," he announced, " is a list I made, of all the Yautja, both past and present, that have taken an Ooman to mate. All female Oomans I would like to add. There is even two Yautja's, both Lone warriors, that when their first Ooman mate passed away found another Ooman mate."
Ti'kon's head was starting to spin with all that the High Elder was telling him.
"Would you like to know why blue eyes are so rare among Yautja, but still manage to appear every now and then?"
"Ooman's," Ti'kon answered in shock.
"Exactly, now would you like to tell me the color of my eyes Councilor?"
"They are blue, High elder."
"Exactly, somewhere along my blood line there was an Ooman, and do you find me to be a weak Yautja because of this blood?" Again, he didn't wait for an answer before continuing, so I contacted the Blooded warrior, who was only just alive, and granted him the clearance he first sort to bring his new mate to the ship. Would you like to know how this young warrior knew of my family heritage, and why I listened to him to begin with?"
Ti'kon didn't have to wonder, all the puzzle piece of the story falling to place in his mind.
"He is one of the sons you have with your life-mate, Yeyinde."
"Exactly, my son Yeyinde. Although I hear that his Life-mate calls him 'Scar', a horrible name, that I think he prefers now. So, I welcome you back, Councilor Ti'kon, to the only Clan ship that will allow Ooman females, and I mean only the females, within reason, to board."
Ti'kon was numb with relief at this point.
So numb, that he didn't notice Little Knife had moved from his side over to one of the guards. She leaned in close to the male Yautja, inspecting his strange skin. He was a rarity on their clan ship. His mother having mated with a male back at the home planet to produce him, a male that had come from the hottest climate known to them. As a result, the guard had dark, black and brown, skin with faint yellow highlights. He eyed the Ooman female warily, occasionally sniffing the strong male musk she carried.
Ti'kon only noticed this interaction when the male growled a warning to his mate.
His head swiveled, and his body tensed, ready to come between the two. Only to freeze when his mate released one of her own warning growls in retaliation, putting the male in his place . . . . like a female Yautja would.
The whole congregation was silent. All present finding what happened hard to believe.
The High Elder burst out laughing.
"A bold female you have claimed there, Councilor. Her spirit will serve her well!"
"Dahdtoudi!" Ti'kon barked at her, motioning to his side, upset that she had left it inspect another male, that was not him.
Little Knife straightened, glaring at him, obviously recognizing the name he gave her, and the command behind it.
"Don't snap at me. I was only looking," she barked back at him, small hands on her hips, but she came back to him regardless.
When she reached his side, Ti'kon tried his best to look ashamed that he had openly tried to command her in front of others.
"Yes, very well I see," the High Elder smiled, eyes glinting at Ti'kon. "Ah. . . .here comes the young K'on."
All turned to watch K'on descend from the ship. The Lone warrior slung over his shoulder. He presented the heavily scarred, undernourished Yautja to the High Elder.
"You, too, have had a long trip, K'on," the elder spoke directly to K'on, a great honor for any Young blood. "Even though he is not part of our clan, we will offer the Lone warrior haven for now. You and your father can take him to the Medics. I'm sure you have much to talk of-" He looked at Ti'kon's still frowning mate. "All things considered."
With that, the High Elder turned to leave the docking bay, his assembly following.
"High Elder," Ti'kon called before his leader could get too far away. "I would like to request a Translator for my Mate."
The imposing Yautja turned back to him, his decorative robes swishing. He looked surprised, "That's right, she can not understand you," he smiled wickedly. "She can not understand you, and yet you still managed to get her to wear your musk so thickly. Why would you want to ruin a good thing by letting her know all the words that come from your mouth?"
Ti'kon was speechless.
Did the High Elder just make a mating joke?
About him?
The guards and the remaining councilor did their best to hide their grins at the High elders comment, but Ti'kon saw them all.
"But, if you believe she needs one," the elder continued, "I give you full permission to complicate your relationship with the device. Goodbye, Councilor."
With that he left, leaving very shocked Ti'kon in his wake.
