AHHH! One chapter to go! Thanks for all the reviews from the last chapter. I had no idea that Ni'il-este was such a popular character! Remember the little purple button!
Kainde Amedha Chiva-Hard Meat Trial, Blooding hunt.
Setg'in-kwei-Tricky and quick.
Guan-Thwei-Nightblood.
Nihkou'te-Tooth or tusk.
Ki'tis-pa-Retractable spear.
Ki'cti-pa-Wristblades.
H'sai-de-Curved sword.
Pauk-de-Fucker or fucking.
C'ntlip-Strong alcoholic beverage.
Bakuub-Straight spear.
Chapter 17
Setg'in-kwei found Matt leaning against a stone pillar, staring listlessly at the body of a Yautja. Upon closer examination, he saw that it was Ni'il-este. He crouched and peered with concern at the ooman's face.
"What happened?" Matt sighed and rested his eyes on his friend.
"I killed him."
"Why?" said Setg'in-kwei.
"He had a young Kainde Amedha in him. I had to do it. Ni'il-este couldn't. He died by my own hands! By my own pauk-de hands! I'm a murderer!" Matt held up his hands for emphasis. They were still streaked with Yautja blood.
Setg'in-kwei rested a huge, taloned hand on Matt's shoulder and said softly, "You had to. He was dangerous and had to die. You prevented him from dying a much more painful death. Any honorable warrior would have done the same thing in your place." Then he glanced around and added, "You should get up now. Hard Meat are coming because of the blood. M'aat-hew! Are you listening?" Matt grunted and turned his mask over in his hands a few times. "Get ready to fight if you don't want to join Ni'il-este!" Shrieks and hisses echoed through the darkness. Matt jumped up and put his branded mask back on. Then he pulled out his Smart Disc as Setg'in-kwei pulled out shuriken. They stood ready, two new warriors, ready to kill.
The first few Hard Meat charged into view. They drooled and hissed, staring sightlessly at the two warriors. Matt threw his Smart Disc. The Hard Meat sensed it coming and tried to dodge, but the weapon was locked on. It sliced the beast in half. Shuriken spun through the air. One missed and bounced off a pillar, while the other ripped a gash along a Kainde Amedha's flank and whirled back. The warriors attacked the advancing Hard Meat with airborne weapons until they became so covered in blood that they were dangerous to use. Then Matt and Setg'in-kwei brought out their other weapons. Setg'in-kwei had his ki'its-pa and Matt his h'sai-de because his own spear had been destroyed. The human and Yautja fought the Kainde Amedha, watching each other's backs, fighting in deadly unison. The few remaining creatures suddenly stopped attacking, seeming to respond to some silent signal, and disappeared into a shaft. The warriors panted and shook their weapons off. After Matt caught his breath, he walked over to where his Smart Disc lay and prodded it gingerly with the tip of his sword. It was sparking slightly, pocked and dulled by the acid. Because most Youngbloods didn't take a Smart Disc with them, this was a lower quality one. It did not have the high acid tolerance of the better ones and was ruined. The only reason Matt had one was because of his abysmal skills with shuriken.
"We should go." hissed Setg'in-kwei, "They will be back with more."
"What about Ni'il-este?"
"The Elders will come through here and collect the culls when they kill the last Kainde Amedha. Let's go!" Matt looked one last time at his fallen friend's body before he fled.
…..
Matt and Setg'in-kwei hurried through the shifting pyramid. They picked off lone Kainde Amedha as they searched for the entrance. They walked cautiously into each new room, but most were empty or filled with the remains of an old battle. In one they encountered a gruesome sight. Dozens of stone blocks radiated around a central mosaic. On each one was a dead human, chained tight. An empty Hard Meat egg was between each one's legs. Matt looked at the bodies. Each one had had its chest torn open violently. Matt knew that would have been Ni'il-este's fate as well. Setg'in-kwei eyed Matt carefully as they passed through the death-filled room.
"Stop looking at me that way. I'm not going to freak out. I didn't know any of them and I knew about this room. I understand that you think of humans as prey and think that they are the best to breed Hard Meat in." Setg'in-kwei clicked sheepishly. "Feel that?" said Matt. "Fresher air. We must be getting closer to the entrance." Soon they came to it. Matt groaned, "I wish we could leave now and didn't have to wait for the Elders…" Setg'in-kwei produced a small device and attached it to a large stone at the door.
"Now we'll be able to find it easily again." he explained. Matt grinned as they headed back into the depths of the pyramid.
…..
Hot blood splattered the ground as Matt neatly removed the head of a Kainde Amedha with his ki'cti-pa. Looping a special acid-proof rope around it, he slung it over his shoulder and turned to Setg'in-kwei. He too had a trophy on his back.
"Ready?" said Matt.
"Yes, the Elders are waiting." The two new warriors turned and navigated the twisting walls of the pyramid, following the signal in their masks to the Elders and the entrance.
The four elders were standing at the entrance. Another Youngblood, no, she'd be a warrior now, was facing the Elders, standing at attention. Matt knew that Gts'paik would survive. He really could not see the serious Yautja failing at anything. They stood in place beside her and waited for any others to come. Setg'in-kwei admired the large skull on her back. It was different; the head was ridged and larger than theirs. At long last a final Yautja limped to the entrance. His leg was viciously torn and had several clamps in the wounds. Matt winced. At least not all of the screams were from dying Yautja. The Elders greeted them warmly, shaking each new warrior's shoulder and making a soft purring, growling noise. Bakuub led them out while the others started into the pyramid, drawing their weapons.
Matt blinked his eyes watering fiercely from the sun's bright rays. The ship they had arrived in waited for the new warriors. Beside it was a much smaller and more familiar ship. Guan-Thwei was leaning against the door. He waited until they were close before chuckling and shaking their shoulders in congratulations.
"M'aat-hew, do you want to see your sister? I'll take you, if you want."
"Yeah! Thank you!" Guan-Thwei turned to Setg'in-kwei. "Do you want to come too? I'm going back to the clan ship after." The young Yautja nodded and they headed into the small ship.
…..
"What do you think?" asked Matt as he adjusted the newly cleaned skull on a spare trophy rack.
"It's a bit bare. Get a few more before boasting to any females." said Setg'in-kwei thoughtfully. "Actually, you should grow more and fix your hair before showing off to any females. I don't understand why you keep it like that, always getting dirty, tangled, sweaty…" He shook his head, dreadlocks flying. "Get Bakuub to do it. She won't take too long." Matt ran a hand through his hair and grimaced.
"Hell, no! I know how you do that! You make the scalp bleed and it takes months. I'll keep my hair like this, thank you very much! Besides, I'm not going to be showing off to any of your females. They'd chew me up and spit me out." Setg'in-kwei laughed.
"I could see that happening to you too!"
"Ha-ha, very funny. Let's go see Guan-Thwei."
Setg'in-kwei cackled and called after Matt, "Running from a little teasing? I thought you were used to it. After all, you did hang out with Nihkou'te all through training. I highly doubt that you escaped his clutches without a few jokes at your expense!"
…..
Guan-Thwei sat in one of the big leather chairs in the eating area of the ship. He watched as Setg'in-kwei and Matt walked in. Both had identical brands on their foreheads. Bruises dotted them everywhere, showing as bright spots. They had stitched and cauterized the gashes, some with Kainde Amedha blood, some the more conventional way. He smiled. They reminded him of himself and Nihkou'te. He reached out and grabbed a bottle of c'ntlip pouring some into three of the bowl-like cups that the Yautja used. The newly blooded warriors sat down and pulled the cups towards themselves. Setg'in-kwei gingerly took a sip of the strong beverage and grimaced. Matt lifted up the cup and blinked at it, looking unhappy; Guan-Thwei had given him considerably less. The ooman took a large gulp and nearly choked! He turned color and spluttered, trying to hold back suppressed coughs and swallow at the same time. Several minutes went by before he fully regained control.
Setg'in-kwei held back a grin as Guan-Thwei asked, "Like it? I thought you should have some to celebrate."
Matt replied weakly, "It's good. I like it…What is it?" Setg'in-kwei snorted.
Guan-Thwei rumbled, "C'ntlip. Very good c'ntlip too." Matt shot a glare at Setg'in-kwei, whose mandibles were quivering with suppressed laughter.
"What's so funny?" he demanded.
"Nothing." he snorted, "You just looked like you were going to be sick! Never gulp c'ntlip like that, especially since you are such a runt!" Matt scowled and took a much, much smaller and more careful sip. Guan-Thwei leaned forward and swirled his drink.
"Tell me about your Chiva. How did it go?" Setg'in-kwei and Matt exchanged looks and began telling the older warrior about their Trial.
