Purring.

A low, rumbling purr like a motor. Yet, more gentle and smooth. Easier on the ears.

Lex had never been a big cat person, and never cared for or against purring. Lately, it had been her favorite sound.

Right now she heard purring. Gentle and constant. So soothing that it lulled her to sleep a few times.

Lex didn't plan on opening her eyes anytime soon. She felt surreal and comfortable in her floating abyss, the purring like elevator music much not as annoying, and she couldn't feel any pain. She didn't even feel numb. Just there.

But then, the purring cut short. A growl sounded and shuffling of feet - clawed feet - could be heard.

A new purr began. This one much better than the last. It tugged at her like her mind remembered it from somewhere. She heard it before. She knew that much. Nonetheless, it lulled her back to sleep.

The warmth that surrounded her felt nice too. Though she didn't like the feel of being moved, the purr kept her settled and calm. After all, who would want to wake up when so cozy and comfy?

When Lex did decide to open her eyes, the usual dim lights of the ship glowed around her. Lex noticed that the room looked more like a hospital. She'd seen the med bay when she toured the ship but that had only been a quick peek into their waiting room.

Now, she laid on one of their many cots, one curtain pulled back to show a row of beds to her right. Not much business for the doctors apparently.

Strange. I was so sure I was dead.

"Lex?" The voice came from the left but she couldn't see who sat next to her. They sounded familiar. "Lex? You passed. You passed the last trial, Lex."

A smile graced her lips. She had finally won. She made him proud she was sure. Perhaps a bit upset at her condition but still he should be proud.

"Lex, listen. Scar is being detained. He tried to disrupt the trial. He knew what was in the room. Remember how he was acting up? He believed Elder N'nagara-ze was sending you to your death. He was. But you are stronger. You won. He cannot deny you your rights anymore."

A long pause. So long she thought she had missed his departure.

"Everyone on the ship watched your fight. They are impressed. I will try to get Scar out of jail so you can see him. For now rest." The door swished open and then closed, announcing his actual departure with a silent whisper.

Lex relaxed and drifted off.

She woke, head heavy, but clear, and surrounded by the familiar metal walls of Scar's room. Blinking, Lex noticed Scar at the edge of the bed looking dazed and lost in thought.

"You got detained?"

Scar jumped at the sound of her voice before turning to her. Purring, he got up to sit next to her.

"I knew this trial would take its toll. I couldn't just let you walk in there without knowing... You were unprepared." Scar brushed some hair out of her face.

"But I'm breathing..."

"True. Elder N'nagara-ze said that you didn't pass. You killed the kiande amedha but couldn't walk out of the room…" She scowled at that. "Elder K'ash and a few other elders fought with him on the subject. You had no proper equipment, no awu'aaa, and you were in an open space which is rare to find yourself fighting the hard meats in such conditions. Plus it was five against one. For an ooman still training and learning they believed that that itself was an impressive feat." Scar purred his praise to his smaller friend.

"How long have I been out though?"

"A week at most. When they didn't let me out I knew you must have survived. I'm not sure why they wouldn't let me be with you while you recovered but the others kept constant watch over you. Jag even threatened a medic for purring at you while you recovered."

"I think I heard that... I don't really remember much though. Not even the trial." This was a cause of alarm.

Excusing himself, Scar left to discuss the matter with a trusted medic friend of his.

When he returned, Scar found Lex back asleep. He sat next to her and purred while thinking about what the medic had told him. He had even seen the video which only backed up what his friend was saying.

Lex had pretty much been only half-conscious the entire fight. Her mind completely shut out the prospect of the fight because of the trauma she had experienced back at the Earth temple.

Of course, the blood loss could also have helped in slight memory loss but the facts were facts. Lex had been traumatized back at the temple. If she couldn't fight the hard meats properly, she could die in another encounter with them.

But those chances were slim. The kiande amedha were only used for the Chivas. Such creatures were kept under lock and key with maximum supervision. There was little chance of Lex running into one ever again.

Still, it wasn't a good thing. She was a nain-de. She couldn't be traumatized by a hunt.

However, Scar admitted this was before he wanted to train her, help her, and hunt with her. The temple hadn't been a Chiva to her, but simply an unfortunate situation that Lex had to overcome. Wrong time, wrong place.

Perhaps she could overcome this as well. Just like she overcame the challenges at the temple. I'll have to wait and see.

"One week!" Lex screeched causing Scar to take a step back. Females can be unpredictable after all.

"Sei-i, one more week of rest. You're still recovering. The doctor said it was good for you to stretch your legs like when taking a bath or going to the bathroom, but no training and no long distances." Scar stood by the edge of the bed, ready to bolt if she tried to throw something at him.

When Elder K'ash warned him of a female's temper, he believed it only ran in his kind. Humans could be temperamental, he knew that, but compared to Yautjan female?

"So, please do tell me. What am I suppose to do for a week if I can't move?!"

Perhaps they were both on equal terms in regards to fits of violent rage. At least humans were small. Yautjan females were often a full head taller than their male counterparts and elders tolerated no amount of disrespect in the slightest.

"Read? Better your skills in our language?"

Lex groaned at the typical response. She'd been put on a bed for two weeks after the temple and that didn't go over well for her then either. Now, she can't even get up for a week when she felt somewhat okay. It was true that if she moved too quickly or too much she'd get dizzy and begin to ache but still, bed rest had never been a priority unless her body said otherwise.

Sighing, she flopped herself back down only to wince at the reminder of her injuries.

"Calm?"

"Sei-i."

"Good. What do you want to eat? The usual?" She frowned at the switch, always thrown off by the sudden change in language.

Finally, she replied, "sei-i."

Scar nodded and headed off to get her food. Walking into the cafeteria, he noticed the female from the dinner talking to Molten. He kept his head low, got the trays and quickly exited.

"Need help?" Night stopped Scar just outside.

Taking a tray, they both walked back to the room together.

"Zhe'z looking for you. Very interezted in you."

"Not entirely interested myself." Refuting a female could be a disastrous choice, especially when mating season neared. Thankfully, the female ranking matched Scar's and made it much easier.

In their world, ranking decided who could dominate who. Most elders weren't interested in those of low ranking and so when those of equal ranking clashed, it often came down to skill to see who would win.

"Zhe didn't get the hint then."

"I can see that Night. And it's 's's not 'z's." Night grumbled and Scar clicked in amusement.

He had long ago learned proper pronunciation and so Lex stopped picking on him. The others, however, were free game.

Entering the room, Lex was asleep again and so they set her food beside her. They ate in silence by the small, low table reserved entertaining guests. Fur pelts laid underneath them.

Lex came around eventually, only picking and playing with her food a little.

"Stop playing with your food. You are no pup," Scar huffed at her, eyes narrowing as she ignored his instruction.

"No, but I'm injured, cranky, and have little appetite. Pauk off."

Night trilled in laughter while Scar bristled from the tone she used. Night calmly patted Scar's back.

"Don't bother. You've never mated before. Females get aggressive easily come mating season. Lex is like a warm up. If you can be patient with Lex you can be patient come mating time. Practice makes perfect."

"That speech is supposed to help me?"

"That was the intention." Scar snorted before returning to his food.

Lex raised a brow, understanding most of what they said. She reached over, grabbing the empty cup from her tray and chucked it at Night's head.

He roared at the sudden attack, whipping his head around to snarl. Lex had already returned to her food without care and Scar kept his laughter to himself as much as he could.

Molten came in later with Jag following closely behind, but Lex returned to sleeping, a half-empty tray next to her.

At the sight, Jag slowly made his way to her sleeping form, eyes on the food only. Molten met him by the bed, arm raised as if ready to push him away.

"You are being ridiculous. If you want food buy some more." But the two ignored Night as they had their thoughts set on free food.

Scar slowly picked up Lex, who stayed unstirred, and moved back to Night.

"You ruin that fur, Lex will have a fight to pick with you. She got the fur from Earth from her first hunt with me and loves it dearly."

"Doesn't she still have the panther fur and the leopard fur too?"

"Yes and she likes all three to snuggle into. One time, I put it back in the drawer and she thought I got rid of it. Haven't touched anything of hers since." Night trilled in laughter at the thought of his small friend beating Scar.

The thought, while highly entertaining, had become quite plausible.

Scar sat, Lex nestled safely against his chest, while he watched the two become still. Molten on one side, Jag on the other, and the food in the middle.

Both idiots stood still, waiting for the other to move. They were so focused on each other that they didn't even notice Night come in between and snatched up the plate.

"What the hell man?!" Jag's mandibles spread in clear anger as did Molten's.

"This is Lex's food. She can decide who gets it when she wakes up."

"She'll just give it to Scar though!" Molten bristled while Scar puffed his chest out in pride. He came before any of them.

"Exactly. He paid for it."

With the constant bickering between the three of them, Lex stirred. The noise had woken her up and she was already annoyed enough. Scar began to purr to keep her calm and content.

"Hi," her groggy voice was scratchy but Scar heard her clearly.

"Hey. Jag and Molten are fighting over your leftovers again."

"Do you want it?" Scar shook his head 'no' and continued to purr, lulling her back to sleep.

"I guess Night can have it. I don't care." With that, she closed her eyes again and snuggled into his chest.

"She said Night could have it." Instantly, they stopped their bickering. Night sat back down and helped himself to the meats and fruits. Jag and Molten, now disappointed, left for the kehrite to train.

"There is another hunt coming up. Are you interested?"

"I can't leave Lex. That'd be completely unfair to her. Plus, I plan to go on a hunt with her soon enough."

"A private hunt?" Night trilled at the thought.

"You are welcome to join us. I'm not sure how others would feel if she was to join them on a hunting ship. Perhaps Elder K'ash will have another hunt soon." He ignored Night's suggestiveness.

"True, most go to the same hunting ship because they know people there. They'd be okay with her on board." Scar nodded in agreement.

Night took the trays back to the chefs and headed off to his own room.

Scar laid Lex back down to sleep and left to soak in the bathing pool. Once he was done, he joined her on the bed. He held her next to him for the rest of the night, just purring and running his clawed hands through her hair.