Translate:

Ell-osde' pauk - specifically means 'fuck you'

Kv'var-de - hunter

Cjit - shit

Syra'yte - head

H'ulij-bpe - crazy

**I know A/Ns can be long and borning and you just want to read more chapters… but my A/Ns typically have extra information for you about concepts in my story and this one mentions a particular poll you might be interested in participating… with a very big hint...

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"His parents were bad bloods. They were killed when he was young and he was raised by relatives of his and a few who agreed to foster him." Lex sat beside her in the living space, having brought her lunch. "That's why they give him such a hard time."

Abba currently sat in a private meeting with Elder Va'rak and K'ash which would have left Miana alone had Lex not come with lunch.

"Its probably why he hates his name."

"Yeah." Lex wiped her mouth, leaning back. "How's it been? We haven't spoken much before you got here."

"Okay. Got to explore a lot and Abba's real nice about stuff." Her friend nodded to that, pleased to hear everything had been going well.

Abba returned, announced by the swish of the front door and Beanie's happy bark. Elder K'ash followed him in.

"Elder Va'rak suggests that next time… Abba tells you to do something, you follow it." Elder K'ash looked pointedly at Miana. "However, there will be no overall punishment for either one of you." Lex grinned at the news.

"Are we still grounded?"

"H'ko. You are free to move about. It's still mating season, so please be cautious." With that note, everyone stood and bowed as the elder departed.

"I should get going." Lex grabbed Miana's tray and her own to take back to the cafeteria. Scar should still be there, eating with his hunt brothers.

Miana returned to her seat after showing Lex to the door. She glanced around the room, then looked at Abba before back at the room.

He only grunted, taking a seat across from her.

"Would you like to see the scientists now?" She had yet to give them the samples she collected.

Jumping up in excitement, Miana rushed to her room, gathering the samples she stored away. The creatures they captured remained on Abba's ship and would have to be transported at a later date with special care.

She followed him down the hallway, noting how empty most of them were. Most likely the majority remained either in the cafeteria or the kehrite.

"Abba?"

"It's fine, Miana. I have no interest in mating this season." He slowed his pace to walk beside her rather than in front. "We get like that when we're older."

"I was going to ask if you ate yet… but thanks for calling yourself old for me." He grunted, ruffling her hair with a bit of pressure until she squeaked at him to stop.

The biologists and geologists were allowed lab space on particular ships so long as the ship had the room and the elder in charge agreed to it. They rented the space out, either having to pay large fees or the space donated in place of grant money. Either way, they often were unfunded compared to other departments.

Upon hearing their arrival, many Yautja came to greet them. They heard a New Blooded human having been the one to collect a lot of their much needed specimens and samples.

At first, Miana expected a cold or indifferent welcome, but they all were dancing around her in excitement.

"They were quite surprised to learn of your great interest. Not many pick up their requests." Abba helped her set the box on a high counter. "Ta'ka wants to meet you. She doesn't speak English, but I'll translate what you don't understand."

And Miana didn't understand a lot. The female spoke so fast it made her head spin. Abba translated for her for the entire conversation.

Ta'ka, the head biologist and Kwei-ke, they head geologist were lifemates. Both had been ecstatic at her interests and gave her permission to enter the labs whenever she wanted. Especially if she had more samples for their research.

"So… it's not taboo for two women-"

"-females, Miana. Women is an ooman term."

At his correction, Miana nodded and continued, "for two females to be lifemates?"

"H'ko." He clicked at her. "Why would you think that?"

"Well, I just thought… you know with the whole bloodline and reproduction…" She threw her hands up in the air and made a small explosion sound.

Not understanding and choosing to ignore it, Abba explained.

"It doesn't matter." Abba opened the door to the cafeteria for them. "Many lifemates don't have pups. That's something that happens earlier in life and with temporary mates. Those of high ranking already have many pups, so their bloodline is secure."

"Oh… so when you said you understood…" He gave her a slight shove before grabbing a tray.

"Sei-i. I understood perfectly fine."

A few staff members remained in the cafeteria at all times except for when the ship considered it the night cycle. That's when the cafeteria closed for about fifteen hours. It would reopen and remain open for the next eighteen hours, not including the time they needed to prepare and clean the space before and after open hours.

Forty hour days were tough on Miana. She started their typical Yautja day with an hour or so nap before she could stay up a good twenty hours… not including the few naps, she took during the day. Abba made her limit it to two once she was up and about and he always woke her up if she napped over two hours.

Abba's sleep patterns never really wavered from what Miana knew. He would sleep for about nine hours, get up for a few and then return to bed for another six or so. During this time, Miana was constantly up and down. Awake when he went to bed, usually sleeping when he got up, and awake for the rest of the time he slept. They never really saw each other at night.

Miana tried to adjust herself better to their schedule, but she didn't have the energy to stay awake and active their entire day. She did try to wake when Abba did, but that also didn't go so well as she continuously missed the times to sleep and wake up.

...

With sweat rolling down and making her clothes stick to her, Miana pushed herself up. She grunted as she stretched out, limbs slightly trembling, and she slid from the bed.

Beanie laid by her door, peacefully asleep.

She passed by him to the living room, thankful the swishing of the door didn't wake him.

Abba explained that the ship's glowing pattern corresponded to the times they should be awake and asleep. The more blue-ish colors represented the day cycle. Purples would mix into the design gradually as the night cycle approached and would remain that way until the short period when they should be getting up. Blues, reds, and purples represented the short wake period. Their second sleeping phase had reds and blues which would fade into only blue when the day cycle came back around.

At first, she only saw blue in the lines of the walls, but then, upon closer inspection, there were a few red streaks left. Almost day time.

She never woke before Abba before, always taking her nap when he got up. Perhaps, her body finally adjusted to their day cycle. Enough to be awake in time for it.

Miana left the room, only intending for a stroll. She didn't know the ship very well, only being here for a day and most of that time she had been required to stay in the quarters assigned to her.

She figured she could make a loop around the place and shake her dream off.

Miana let her hands trail along the walls, sometimes following the pattern of soft, glowing, blue light before they reached well above her head. It helped to focus her, to ground her in reality, and her limbs stopped in their tremors.

The alien feel that surrounded her helped tremendously to remind her of where she currently stood. On an al- no, Yautja mothership filled to the brim with hunters, warriors, scientists, engineers, and markets. It held to no human touch to it, other than the two that walked the halls.

However, as she pulled herself from her thoughts, she didn't find another corner to round as soon as she hoped. Or perhaps, she passed it entirely.

She found, instead, herself taking a turn and walking down a rather large hallway that most likely led to another portion of the ship.

The quarters for families and lifemates had narrower hallways for the less traffic and allowed large suites for use.

Miana stopped, deciding to head back before she got too lost. She still knew the turns she just made.

Just before she could round the corner and return to her room, two large Yautja stopped her. They purred at the sight of her, mandibles clicking and heads tilting to the side. One reached forward to tug at her shirt and look at her marking.

She backed away and he easily released the fabric. Looking to their foreheads, she noted the marks there, the same as hers. Which meant that they couldn't be that far ahead of her in ranking, if not equal to her standing.

The one that grabbed her shirt clicked at her and pointed to the hallway they were walking. She shook her head no, but he merely gestured again.

The other Yautja snorted at his friend before giving him a light, playful shove in her direction. His friend didn't like it, apparently, as he whipped around to display his mandibles wide in aggression. The male responded in kind, shoving him off to the side and suddenly standing between Miana and his friend.

She backed up, slowly making her away from the two, but the males followed her. Each couple of steps she took became matched instantly with one of their own.

"Toey look to be figoting over you." Miana jumped at the strange English and turned to find an amused female Yautja.

"Really? I can't understand a word…"

"Toey aren't zpeakeing, but rather…" She gestured to herself, lost on the word she sought.

"Using body language?" The female nodded, thanking her for the assistance. "Where in the ship am I?"

She purred at Miana's Yautja before answering, "close to the male quarters. They often use this hallway to get to the cafeteria. It should be opened by now."

That explained it. And the several others that began to pass by them. All on their way to breakfast.

Some males stopped to watch with mild interest, but upon seeing, not one but two females also watching the beginnings of the fight, they puffed their chest and joined the fray.

"Uh oh…" The female trilled in amusement.

"Find someone else. We have no interest." Her words at first went unnoticed.

Irritated, she stepped forward, growling low at them. They backed down at her aggression.

"Young ones like that just need a firm hand sometimes. One shove, playful or not, will send them into a fight, but most won't try to pick a fight with you." She purred at Miana, pulling her along as they headed away from the males. "They won't usually follow you in here as they'll get in trouble."

"Ki'sei."

Abba found her, Beanie trailing behind him, first. He thanked the female for her assistance, but she waved them off. She needed to attend to her own pups and left them without so much of a good-bye.

"Sorry."

"For what? You can walk about on the ship." He gestured with his head to the hallway behind him. "There is a… safer route to the cafeteria."

Miana smiled at that and let him show her the way. For the most part, it remained empty and quiet. Most sleeping in and she quickly realized why.

They entered another long hallway with a lot more traffic. A lot more traffic meant a lot more fights. Several littered the space, jam packed with females and males.

Abba carefully led her through the crowd. It wasn't too bad considering most fights ended up near the edge of the hallway, but she could already smell the blood in the air.

"Don't worry. They don't allow fighting in the cafeteria." He could feel Miana grab onto his belt, trying to keep with him as bodies pushed at her.

Miana could barely hear it about the cheers and roars of the crowd, but she heard it. Stopping and letting go of Abba, she turned in search of Beanie. Her four-legged baby not in sight.

Panicked, she began to head back the way they came. Another caught her attention. A small, almost unheard yelp in the crowd.

She shoved her way through, gathering attention in her haste until the crowd began to part for her.

Beanie remained crouched low, hairs raised and teeth bared at the Yautja male that stood before him. The male raised his foot, kicking the dog back with an amused trill.

"Hey!" Miana roughly shoved the Yautja next to her away, making her snarl. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The male answered, not in the least intimidated by the human.

"He said the dog bit him." Abba stood at the edge of the group that made way to watch.

Miana looked, but didn't see any traces of blood on him, "ell-osde' pauk."

At her words, those around them roared. With laughter? Were they cheering for a fight?

Miana didn't know.

She stepped back to inspect Beanie. He kept one of his back legs lifted on the ground, but otherwise, didn't appear to be bleeding.

The male growled at her.

"He says you're just a human. You aren't worth mating." Abba's voice reached her above the crowd.

She bit her tongue and guided Beanie to Abba. She knew that the male was trying to say.

"Watch him." The male mistakenly turned his back to her, saying something to the spectators.

He didn't see as she made her way towards him. Didn't see her launch herself onto his back until she already settled herself there. Fists beating into his head.

He ducked as best as he could, trying to shake her off.

The crowd cheered at the sight.

Miana grabbed ahold of his dreadlocks and pulled with every ounce of strength she had until he fell to his knees in pain.

Molten warned her about their sensitivity after having tugged on one of his to gain his attention. He had forgiven her, of course.

This male, however, probably wouldn't.

Once on the ground, Miana got off him but didn't walk away. No, a little hair pulling wouldn't quench the anger she felt bubbling to the surface.

She grabbed the back of his head and smashed her knee into his mandibles, cracking one. It hurt like hell, but she bit back the pain and let his head drop to the floor.

The group of witnesses quieted down at the approach of what only could be an elder. He spoke to her, but he, like everyone else, spoke too fast for her to understand it all.

"The elder says it is dishonorable to use his hair against him." Without thought, Miana mocked his words before turning to Abba. "Yes, I will translate for you."

She nodded her head to him in thanks before turning back to the elder.

"Dishonorable is attacking my dog who clearly never drew blood." She pointed to the male's ankles and calves. Not a scratch to be found. "Who probably never even attacked, to begin with." She pointed to Beanie who sat awkwardly beside Abba. "And left my dog limping."

Abba dutifully translated her sentence as she spoke.

"He asks if you would fight with him on such a matter."

Without missing a beat and without turning her gaze from the elder, she replied, "Yautja females will gladly throw down any Yautja, regardless of rank, stupid enough to disrespect her or her own."

The females of the crowd roared in agreement, mandibles spreading wide as their roars echoed off metal walls.

"He says you are no Yautja female." They quieted at the elder's comeback, gazing drilling holes into Miana's skull.

"H'ko. I am ooman," she pulled back her shirt to reveal her mark, "but am every ounce a kv'var-de of your clan and respect the rules. So, the next time any cjit that touches me or one of my own, I will rip every dreadlock from their syra'yte until they get the message. Regardless of rank. Just like any female here."

A pause filled the space and all of Miana's confidence left her. Her Yautja needed work and-

Several females came from the crowd, standing at her back and growling at the elder. More joined her.

Lex appeared from the crowd, Scar wisely maneuvering himself from her to Abba.

"I told you she's a firecracker. She's h'ulij-bpe. She'll do it." Lex stopped and took a peek at Miana from over her shoulder before looking back at the elder. "Regardless of rank."

The elder back down, bowing his head apologetically before disappearing back into the crowd.

The females around her cheered, their roars echoing off the wall once more. They shook her shoulder, greeting her as a sister, before making their way back to the crowd. Everyone else began to disperse.

"I see the morning is off to a great start." Lex shook her shoulder in greeting.

"Sei-i. I don't believe he broke anything. Just a sprain." Abba lifted Beanie from the floor and let Miana coo at him. "Your Yautja is a bit slow… but the pronunciation was perfect."

Miana looked up at him in surprise at his praise. It soon wore off and a smile graced her face.

"Why don't we grab some breakfast?" Lex led them in. Scar close behind her as usual.

Miana narrowed her eyes at the sight, slowing herself down to speak to Abba out of their hearing range.

"Scar's a little…" Miana waved her hand back and forth, giving Abba an odd look.

"It is mating season. Even if they are lifemates, anyone who so much thinks about wanting to mate her, Scar would… what's that Earthly saying?"

"Throw hands. Scar would throw hands." He made that odd noise, the one where he was both amused but confused at the same time. "Beat his ass, basically."

"Sei-i. Like you just did to the male outside." Abba nodded to that, setting Beanie down so he could grab his food.

Beanie remained strictly between the two until they reached Lex and Scar's usual table. He promptly jumped up onto the bench next to Miana where she scratched behind his ears as she ate.

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I hope you've been enjoying everything so far! I also hope I didn't botch anything.

More about the whole lifemates thing and such mentioned in the beginning, Yautja are, as a species, very career and "bloodline" focused when they are younger. When they get older, that's when they think about relaxing and settling down. They have long life spans which means they have time to go research or hunt or whatever it is they aspire to do. At an older age, they kind of just want to relax a bit more and that's when they start thinking about lifemates, a sentient companion to spend the rest of their days with.

If you have more questions about that, just read the rest of the story and then ask as I might answer them in later chapters. At the very end, if there are still questions floating around in your head, just send them either through PM or review and I will make a FAQ page for you.

Also, I mention more about this if you choose the correct option in my poll that you can find in "Did You Miss Me?" - hint hint: the option: "Give it to us all" is highly rewarding vs the option" we want more than one" or simply, the option: "lemon".

I needed some inspiration about "throwing hands" for Miana's definition because saying "he'd fight them" just wasn't doing it for me. So, of course, I went to Google and Google took me to Urban Dictionary. I thought I'd share Urban Dictionary's beautiful definition for "throwing hands" because 1) it's amazing what I find on there. Surprises me every time. 2) in case Miana's short definition wasn't enough for you.

*Cursing Ahead*

Definition: When you knuckle-up and start swinging with the intention of beating a motherfucka down.

(Describes Miana perfectly, no?)

Example Sentence: If that punkass bitch looks over here again, we bout to get down, throw some hands, that's real.

(A perfect sentence of "exactly" what Scar would say if anyone looked at Lex in a way he didn't like.)

*No, they didn't accompany one another but together, they are beautiful.