New and very easy semester for school, which means less homework for me and more updates! I'll also have a sequel to one of my stories up in a few weeks! Yay!

Finally, the exciting part! I hope you like this chapter and give me lots of reviews because I'm hoping for at least 100 for this story! Remember the purple button!

Awu'asa-Armor.

Kainde Amedha-Hard Meat.

Setg'in-kwei-Tricky and quick.

Kainde Amedha Chiva-Hard Meat Trial.

Ooman-Human.

Ki'cti-pa-Wristblades.

Ki'its-pa-Retractable spear.

Naginata-Most prized weapon a Yautja can have. It has a blade that can detach into 2 short, curved swords and its own cloaking device.

Chapter 15

Matt awoke suddenly as the door to the sleep pod lifted open. All at once, his fear and excitement rushed back. The fear churned his stomach, but his excitement was enough to overcome that: If he lived, he'd be famous! Matt wanted to fight, to prove he was as good as any Yautja. He began to do his pre-battle stretches and once finished, began to put on his awu'asa.

Several minutes later he started for the main rooms but saw Ni'il-este out of the corner of his eye as he passed another armory. Ni'il-este gasped and retreated further into the room. Matt followed. The undersized warrior stank of fear. His armor was skewed. He was pale and trembling.

"Leave me alone!" hissed Ni'il-este, flaring his mandibles slightly and trying to look fierce.

"No." replied Matt, "Let me help you. You can't fight like that! Most of your armor is too loose!" Matt advanced on a frightened Ni'il-este and began tightening straps and re-positioning plates despite Ni'il-este's protests. Afterwards, the Yautja looked thankful.

"M'aat-hew… Could I, could I stay with you and Setg'in-kwei? I feel better and safer around you two. You aren't cruel to me. I actually feel like I may have a chance in the Chiva." He shifted nervously and said softly, "The other Youngbloods and younger warriors have a contest going on. They are betting whether you or I will be the first cull. Even the blooded warriors have no respect for me. You two are one of the few. Please let me stay with you!"

Matt growled and replied, slight anger in his voice, "Yeah, of course! We had better hurry though, or we won't get to eat before we go." They left and Matt decided that he would prove these stupid warriors wrong! How could they assign fates like that? Even Ni'il-este believed that he had no chance! The Youngbloods could be as cruel as playground bullies!

…..

Ni'il-este refused to eat anything and just worried his food into shreds with his clawed hands. Most of the other Youngbloods were ravenous and shoveled down the food, to keep up their strength in the long battle ahead. It was likely to be the last meal of many. Once they finished, they put on their masks and headed to the ejection pods. Matt strapped himself into the one next to Setg'in-kwei's, tightening the straps as much as he could. Padded bars came down over him and locked in place, reminding him of roller coaster restraints. He held the bars in a death grip as the door closed; his idea of fun was not plunging thousands of feet through the atmosphere to crash land to a stop. A click echoed through the metal. Matt managed to draw in half a breath before the pod dropped, accelerating wildly! He clenched his teeth as he fought the scream that struggled to force its way up his throat. It was difficult as his stomach was still back somewhere on the ship and the pod was shuddering violently!

Finally, the hellish descent ended and the door slowly opened. Hot, moist jungle air rushed in. He inhaled the fragrant air deeply as the restraints released. He was home, sort of. Matt looked around as his masked registered animal and bird calls. He glanced about the small clearing where he landed, then switched on his cloaking device. Matt began walking in wider and wider circles, looking for the other pods. Eventually he found Setg'in-kwei and the two searched for the remaining Youngbloods.

…..

After the group had assembled, they followed a signal in their masks to a huge hill. Matt was confused; this was supposed to take place in a pyramid!

"Setg'in-kwei, where's the pyramid? I don't see it!"

"That is the pyramid. The trees have grown up over it. Come on, foolish ooman, the entrance is right over there." Setg'in-kwei pointed to a clump of bushes and trees. Matt squinted at it, then shrugged and started walking. After drawing closer, he saw a heavy stone door, overgrown with moss and creepers. A huge female Youngblood, the only one on the Trial, extended her ki'cti-pa and began clearing the entrance. She stepped back after clearing the door of plant life. Deep, ancient carvings were revealed. Two masked Yautja knelt facing each other and holding crossed naginatas. An odd, serpentish animal was curled in the centre just below where the naginatas met. It had sharp teeth and a crest. The symbol of their clan was carved above the naginatas, a twisting 'T'-like shape. The door was edged with comb-like ridges and writing. The female, Gts'paik, pressed a button on her wrist computer and the door slowly ground open. Cool air flowed out and Matt shivered involuntarily. The warriors-to-be headed into the foreboding darkness.

Matt squinted around the blackness. A small amount of light came through the door, but not enough to illuminate anything but a few feet of dusty stone floor. Matt felt a twinge of panic, how was he supposed to see where to step, let alone the Kainde Amedha! He was about to voice his concerns to Setg'in-kwei when he remembered to different vision modes. He flushed hotly and switched on an infrared one, hoping no Youngblood was looking at him. Matt was glad he hadn't said anything, since he didn't want to be teased again. A huge room was instantly revealed, eerily lit in green and greenish white. They headed in deeper, through the room and into the corridors. Suddenly, stone ground and the very walls began shifting! Setg'in-kwei, Matt and Ni'il-este jumped back as one out of the way of an enormous block. It crunched into place with a deep bang that shook in their very bones. They were alone.

Sometime later, a scream echoed faintly, cutting off far too abruptly.

"Gods." murmured Setg'in-kwei, "It's begun." They drew their weapons and cranked up the volume in their masks. Faint clicks, skitterings and hisses were suddenly audible, growing closer. Ni'il-este was hyperventilating again and the smell of Yautja musk hung heavy in the air. Matt wiped his sweaty hands on his legs and gripped his spear tighter. Suddenly the sounds stopped.

"They must be gone now." said Ni'il-este, obvious relief in his voice. Setg'in-kwei clicked softly and scanned the room. He snarled in surprise and Matt spun. A hideous, long skulled creature was clinging to the wall. It bared glistening teeth and hissed, tensing. Suddenly, it leapt for Setg'in-kwei! The Yautja brought up his ki'its-pa and blocked the Hard Meat, flinging it away in the process! Acid blood dripped from a gash on the Hard Meat's shoulder and it shrieked ear-splittingly, leaping onto the wall again. Setg'in-kwei roared and followed it. A scream burst through the near silence! Matt whirled in time to see Ni'il-este dragged away by another Kainde Amedha! Bright blood splashed the ground as he clawed frantically at the wall before disappearing from sight. The pyramid began shifting again as all hell broke loose! They had been surrounded by Hard Meat! One dropped off the wall and hurled itself at Matt in two bounds. Pain bloomed on his shoulders as its claws dug deep. Matt found himself falling backwards into an opening pit. The last thing he saw was Setg'in-kwei's masked face.

"M'AAT-HEW!" he roared, extending a hand. Matt screamed as he plunged into the darkness, Hard Meat on top of him.

Cackle! Cliffhanger! Don't you hate me:) Remember to review lots and lots!