"Can't I just hide behind you?"
"That doesn't sound much like you, Lex." Elder K'ash looked down at her.
"Yeah, courage has just fled me... Not much of my friend as of late if you ask me." Lex took steady breaths to calm her nerves.
Slowly, the doors opened with a hiss and soon enough the large docking area became visible. As was the thousands of Yuatja on board. The Elder stood at the front with honorable hunters behind him and the young bloods behind the honorable.
Elder K'ash immediately went forward to talk to the Elder. Lex waited with the rest as they conversed until the Elder barked something. Scar quickly translated what he had said.
"He zaid that it was laughable that a zoft meat would able to join the rankz of the hunterz."
"'S's, Scar not 'z's."
A few hunters behind them clicked in laughter as Lex scolded Scar on his pronunciation. Even in the most serious of times, Lex couldn't help but correct him. It distracted her.
Elder K'ash slowly moved back to where she stood.
"It's of no use. He will not allow you to even stay aboard to wait for the next vessel to go to Earth."
"What about three trialz to prove zhe can-" Scar growled out the words.
"Its okay, Scar. There's no way a smaller ship could just take me back?" Insulted but relieved, Lex tried to focus on a way home.
"Perhaps but I'll need a few days to get the ship ready for the journey and I don't want to leave you here." Kindly, the elder punched her shoulder. "That's just rude."
Lex laughed at his concern for being polite. The thought was sweet, but Lex would gladly take the option to avoid the hostile hunters that stood yards away.
"Three trialz to tezt her abilitiez... all I azk iz for her to be given a chance." A few rumbles occurred behind them, some stomping their feet in what Lex at first thought to be disagreement.
Catching the particular look in Elder K'ash's eyes, she realized they weren't arguing. They were supporting her.
"I'll try."
Elder K'ash went back to where the Elder still stood amused. They exchanged words until Elder K'ash waved Lex forward. With cautious steps, Lex walked until she stood next to him.
"Toree trialz? You wizo to zoow your kenowledge of our language and keulture as well as your figoting?"
"With your permission, sir." He laughed.
"You'll zart in one week." Lex could tell this was only brief entertainment to him.
"You're in charge." He seemed pleased enough with that last comment before he turned to shout something into the crowd causing the others to growl and roar in protest.
Lex and Elder K'ash made their way back to the others before they proceeded down the ramp together and off to their rooms. Lex followed Scar and helped him carry his stuff to his room.
"You zhouldn't have helped..."
"It's fine, plus I'm still imposing on you by taking up space in your room."
"Alwayz welcomed here. Alwayz."
"Thanks."
Unlike the hunting ship, Scar's room on the mothership had enough room for a huge bed, desk, and workbench with plenty of drawers for storage. The bathroom had a tub plus shower head for use.
Scar busied himself with putting away his belongings and finding a place to store Lex's stuff as she looked around.
With everything put away, Scar insisted on sharing the bed. It stood a good three feet from the floor and had a metal frame. Lex swore you could fit at least 5 Yuatja and 10 humans on the bed at the same time.
"Very funny, Lex. We zhare bed. It big enough for uz two."
"Um... Are you sure? Couldn't we just make a spot somewhere else on the floor?" Lex scratched the back of her head, finding several spots on the floor where she could sleep.
"No. We zleep now."
Lex grumbled, but nevertheless climbed onto the furs and laid down at the very edge. She knew he wouldn't let up until he won. And honestly, she had no energy to fight. Verbally or physically.
Scar climbed in on the other side and quickly fell asleep, something that she envied. Lex couldn't. Not when she had three trials coming up. Three. And she needed to prove herself. Not just to live but to make Scar proud.
It was his fault I'm here…
Still, every time Night, Jag, or Molten praised her, Scar stood a little taller. He taught her that. She couldn't deny she got the same pride every time Scar improved his own pronunciation. Not perfect, but better.
For the next week, Lex spent her time practicing hunting forms and preparing for the first trial. Instead of putting her on an actual hunt, mainly due to time, she'd have to prove she knew the techniques and forms they taught unblooded.
If she could prove capable of understanding, she'd pass the test. If Lex passed all three trials then she'd have to go on on a hunt and return with trophies of her own to be officially accepted and her mark recognized as a true mark of the blooded.
"You will pazz."
"Thanks, Scar."
He nodded to her before placing a hand on her back to lead her to the Elder.
The first trial began today.