Alright, at this point in the story, we all should know oomans means humans and sei-i means yes. Sei-i? Sei-i! Awesome!
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Awkwardly, Miana stood in the hallway of her new home. The adrenaline of such a new place had finally left. Numbness followed to ice her veins, the unknown slightly choking her as she fingered the strange table of curved wood that could not be found back on Earth.
Beanie laid peaceful back in Miana's room, curled by the edge of the bed. He had no idea his master had left or the turmoil that filled her at the late hour.
In times like these, she often found herself huddling under her comforter, silent tears falling to her pillow while she tried to comfort herself in her mind. Tonight, she had no such comforts. All she had were the foreignness that had taken over her life.
Fully rested, sleep would not allow her an escape away from all the things daunting her mind. She wondered about Lex and her new found mate, Scar. They had each other to lean on and while Miana knew she could count on them, a part of her refrained from such actions. It didn't feel right to lean on the older woman and her husband, especially after they had just "wed".
Now, Celtic was such a different matter. Quiet and humble, the young blood had been welcoming of her on the ship and onto his planet. Still, his indifference made her question his accountability.
Miana understood his shame and need for solitude. Doubt remained in spite of her understanding what he may be feeling in that moment. To be a witness to such shame on his name and his trial before the elders had to have taken a toll on his pride. Being human, such things affected her differently and this didn't make her view him in any lesser light.
The other Yautja warriors who had accompanied the three she knew were as foreign as the furs that served as the rugs in the living room. Night had been understanding and patient with her questions while the other two had been more of a comic relief.
Lastly, her guardian Abba. There was no way to begin to fathom that kind of support other than a necessary role he took on. Miana brushed him off immediately. He could help with more of a basic need to understand cultural and language barriers she would come in contact with. On the more personal side, she had no idea who she could turn to least of all him.
"You are distressed." The eleven foot giant stood tall in the seven moons' light that shadowed the darkness of the planet.
His metal plating of fierce, thick steel had vanished to be replaced with a whimsy loincloth and bare skin. Instead of the right posture of any well dignified soul, he leaned against the wall with the casualness of the common folk. If not for his alienness, Miana would have sworn he came straight out of the novels she read about ancient knights and peasant folk.
"No, I've rested enough and I thought to check the place out properly."
"Do not lie, young one. Your devoted pet even senses your distress." True to his word, Beanie sat by Abba's feet.
Her dog stared intensely at her as if calculating the proper steps to take to fix the problem. Or to hunt down and end what caused her such distress.
"I am fine, Ab-" Suddenly, and unexpectedly, laughter bubbled from her chest and out into the somewhat toxic air.
The small burning in her lungs had not eased just yet like it had for Lex. At one point, out of pure annoyance by the discomfort, Miana almost reached for her emergency breathing collar but chose to hold out.
"What?"
"Are you even okay being called Abba? I didn't even check with you."
"I do not care what you call me, Miana." His sudden switch to English threw her for a loop. She had almost got used to listening in Yautja but talking in English.
"I do care. So, is Abba okay? I just said it without thought even though it doesn't feel like it fits you…" Abba clicked in confusion, tilting his head to express himself further.
"Sei-i."
"Cool." Miana turned away, heading for the outdoors.
Beanie followed closely, his breath hitting her heels as he followed. Abba stayed inside, Zeke still sleeping in his temporary bed.
An embarrassing flush came over Miana as she exited the house. No doubt Abba caught onto her uncomfortableness as she left but wisely left her in peace. Miana sensed he watched her as she kicked around small twigs and leaves, the dirt already scraping at her soft, fleshed feet.
Beanie sniffed around, checking out the new area he had yet to explore. He hopped around, running up to her on several occasions. Her dog seemed happy enough which in turn made her smile.
"Having a good time, hun?" Miana sat cross-legged on the ground, cuddling with her overactive dog.
"Miana." Abba now stood by the door. His casual leaning on door frames was still weird to her compared to the rigidness he had in the day.
"Sei-i?"
"Come back inside." He waved her forward before disappearing into the shadows that cast about.
Begrudgingly, Miana followed. Beanie came right at her heels, eager to not be left out on his own.
"What's up?" Miana took her seat on the cushions at the low set table.
Her dog snuggled up to her side, still determined to make her happy. It did but not in the way she wanted. She felt more of a relieved happy to have her dog by her side and so loyally too.
"Zeke will be leaving tomorrow in the morning. That's hours away and empty minds often lead to undesired thoughts." Abba hesitated before beginning with his question, "what do you oomans do to avoid such things?"
"Alcohol. Drugs. Video games. Ice cream. Spend our entire paycheck at the mall…" Miana easily listed off several dozen things to do. None of them very good. Except for ice cream.
"I'm afraid I only got several words to which none are good…" He was a smart Yautja, after all.
"Well, none of them are really good or helpful in fixing that kind of situation. Plus, solitude usually works for me. You can go back to bed." Abba clicked in response, something she didn't understand, but did not move from his seat.
They used clicking to represent different emotions. Fast usually meant laughter. One or two clicks could be a sort of regard or agreement. Possibly confusion or curiosity on their part. Context helped tremendously, but not always.
Unable to see him fully from the shadows, it looked like he just sat staring off into space. However, upon closer inspection, Abba had closed his eyes and looked to be meditating.
Miana observed him for a moment, her intense staring obviously known by the other occupant in the room. Still, if it bothered him he didn't say or do anything to make it known.
The night dragged on, quiet and highly tense. Miana fell asleep at the table from pure boredom, Beanie snuggled against her side. Abba continued to mediate, his own stress and worry admitted into the cool air. Cool for his kind at least.
The next morning, Zeke, escorted by Miana and Abba, headed back home. Elders also came, wishing him a well trip. They ignored Miana's presence for the most part, excluding the greeting from Elder K'ash.
"Have you spoken to Lex? She wanted to come to see you today." Elder K'ash approached her after everyone dispersed.
Abba stood a few feet away, speaking with several others.
"No, I'll see her soon I'm sure." Looking slightly to her left, she noticed Beanie wandering off. "Beanie! No! No wandering!" Leaving the elder behind, she chased after her dog around the docking station.
Elder K'ash watched, remembering the few times Lex had tried to explain how most humans viewed their pets. They were family, someone to take care of, not just a trophy some Yautja preferred.
An odd sight it made, Beanie staying just out of reach of Miana until the dog came to rest by Abba, looking for some attention. When Miana caught up, Beanie gladly trotted up to her. He looked innocently at her, unaware of his wrongdoing.
"Bad dog! I swear you're going to be the death of me one day!" Abba watched the exchange with the other Yautja, engineers if the dirty clothing said much.
"I shall see you later, Miana. Visit Lex." K'ash departed with a quick turn of his heel.
"Come on, Beanie. Let's go visit Aunt Lexie!" At the mention of his "aunt", Beanie barked and ran in circles, hyped from excitement.
The engineers trilled, amused at Abba's charge and pet.
One made a comment, something Miana could not translate. She looked up catching Abba's eye to see a fury of fire lit in them. Unlike the night before, his casualness had been left at home and the fierce warrior was back in thick steel. With, of course, weapons lining his belt and hidden beneath several plates.
He growled something in return, still untranslatable for Miana. Beanie barked again, the hairs on his back rising slightly. She could tell tensions were rising between the two, that much was obvious, but why was not. Her dog didn't care, barking again and again.
One of the males snarled in the direction of the dog, receiving a growl from her companion. Another stepped forward.
In a last-second decision, the arm that currently held her dog back and away from them, let go. Beanie shot forward, jumping up to catch the arm of the male that approached. He had stuck his hand out, as if ready to shove at Abba. On pure instinct, he tried to shake the dog loose. Beanie hung tight, clamping onto the tough skin with all his might.
With a small whistle from Miana, her dog dropped down, landing onto the platform like a cat. He dashed back to her side, hair still rising as he tensed.
Abba looked back at her while the injured Yautja held his bleeding arm. Miana looked innocently at the group, petting Beanie's head as if nothing had occurred. Several guards who were in charge of the area came running up, demanding answers.
While the engineers pointed fingers, Abba calmly came to Miana's side.
"What happened? I'm fuzzy on my Yautja still."
"It's nothing to worry about." Abba patted Beanie's head before escorting them away. One guard followed, receiving a clipped response from Abba which silenced any further questions.
"What did you just say?"
"It's nothing to worry about."
"Were they engineers?"
"No, an unblooded and a young blood. They just were walking through after playing in the fields." Abba kept a hand on her back, pushing her forward at a faster pace.
They made it to Scar's much smaller home. It felt very cozy with the pelts and rugged furniture. Miana noticed the theme in the house. While none of the furniture had looked overused, the material looked made to be rugged. Kind of like a wasteland survivor's little hut.
"Love the furniture." Miana sat across from them, grinning as Beanie demanded attention from the two.
"Yeah. Rugged had always been my style." Lex patted Beanie's head, greeting him with as much enthusiasm.
Miana laughed, wiggling her eyebrows and nodding in Scar's direction. "Rugged, heh?"
Lex wrinkled her nose at what she suggested. Standing, she gestured for the door that led to the small garden in the back. The males stayed behind, discussing many things Miana didn't care to converse in.
"How's your first night here?"
"Long and boring…" Lex smiled, that same motherly smile when she knew the full truth without it even being said aloud. "So, everything went okay for you and Scar?"
"Oh yeah." Lex awkwardly rubbed at her neck while she led them to the back where a bench sat.
"Um… Hate to ask but how does all that crap work anyway? I get temporary, seasonal mating but life mating looks-"
"Complicated." Lex finished her sentence. "It is. Sort of, anyway. There's the usual government stuff like on Earth to ensure everything one spouse has the other will too. The actual ritual of it is a private affair but you have to have a 'blessing', you could call it, of an elder." Lex revealed her fresh marking, still red. It acted as a sort of wedding band.
"Okay…" Miana stared at her, mouth sort of open as if she really didn't get it. "Moving on."
The morning passed on, Abba and Scar eventually joining them outside. Rumor had it that Elder K'ash would be running the next mother ship.
Elder N'nagara had clan business he needed to address and a particular short term ban, so the council had permitted K'ash to lead the next one. As soon as it had fuel and loaded with enough supplies, they would be taking in hunters for the trip.
"They say in just another day or two the list will be out for those interested." Abba had many connections to let him know.
"But didn't you guys just get back?!" Beanie rested his head on Miana's lap, her hand absentmindedly petting her.
"A new one is set up all the time. We have many motherships coming in and out of the port. Usually, they stay out for a two year period. Human years." Miana gaped, Lex laughing at her friend's shock.
"I'm guessing you'll be going." She looked towards Scar who shrugged. He didn't elaborate.
"What about your other friends?" Miana pitched in.
"I assume so."
"Celtic too?" Scar looked more hesitant to answer.
"I don't know. With all that happened with the trial, he keeps his head low. As prideful as he is, it's not hard to knock him down a peg, as you oomans say, unlike my other brother." Scar stood from his crouched position on the ground.
Leading everyone inside, they said their goodbyes. Both Lex and Miana needed to rest, not suited for the long days and nights they had.
Abba made sure Miana and Beanie were safely in the house resting before he left to attend to a few of his other duties.