Sorry for the delay. I was away camping aaaall weekend. It was cold and rainy, but still fun. I'm not entirely pleased with this chapter. I might re-write it later and re-post it. Remember to review, I can see many people who read this and didn't review, thanks to the wonderful hit counter.
Many thanks to:
Olgite the Squidgal: Hee, I'm an influence on you too! Mmm, chocolate…
Bastet1023: Nihkou'te is a bit of an idiot, but I loves him anyway! I seethe with jealousy over Rachael Mayo's art.
Call-Back-Later: You think? I was a bit nervous that people would flame me. Then I would have to hunt them down and kill them, which would take a while.
Kantra: . I'm glad you liked it!
Setg'in-kwei: Tricky and quick.
Nihkou'te: Tooth or tusk.
Guan-Thwei: Night Blood.
M-di'Nan-ku: No Life.
Ki'cti-pa: Wristblades.
C'ntlip: Strong alcoholic beverage.
Jehdin/Jehdin: Hand to hand combat.
Kehrite: Battle arena.
Nain-desintje-da: The Pure Win, absolute victory.
Tarei'hasan: Unworthy opponent.
Pauk-de: Fucker or fucking.
Demon Drums
Later, Matt, Setg'in-kwei, Nihkou'te and Guan-Thwei met M-di'Nan-ku in the long tapestry hung corridor outside the feast hall. He had shed the ornate ceremonial armor and was now only wearing the simple loincloth and leather arm and leg bands that the rest of the musicians wore. Unlike the warriors, he did not have any ki'cti-pa. Matt didn't know a great deal about the Yautja's musicians, but either M-di'Nan-ku did not fight or he was exceptional at hand to hand combat. His dreadlocks and body were streaked with sweat. He cocked his head to the side and fixed a yellow eye on Matt.
"Who is this?" he rumbled, suspicion growing on his heavily streaked and spiked face.
"This is M'aat-hew. He is the ooman that Guan-Thwei sponsored." answered Nihkou'te. A smile spread across the abnormally tall male's mandibles. He laughed, and then he shook Matt's shoulder hard enough to rattle his teeth, while Matt struggled to reach M-di'Nan-ku's shoulder.
"So you are the one that Nihkou'te told me about? He has said much. In fact, he never shuts up when he starts talking about how you were such a pest to Guan-Thwei and didn't even know it." Matt flushed slightly, which embarrassed him more, causing him to flush even more. He forced himself not to cover his face as the Yautja laughed around him.
"Yes," said Guan-Thwei, "It is true. M'aat-hew of the many questions. At least you are behaving properly now, like us." Matt glared. He found that he was often the butt of his Yautja friend's jokes because he had behaved so differently and they liked to remind him of that. Setg'in-kwei hissed in shock as he was shoved to the side by another warrior. The laughter fell silent. The warrior had a slightly squinted expression and a snarl on his mandibles. He wobbled slightly and reeked of alcohol. Unusually, this Yautja had imbibed too much c'ntlip. They usually never did since that showed that they always had control. Nihkou'te was the only Yautja Matt knew to have a problem. He jabbed a talon at M-di'Nan-ku's chest.
"Youare not a real Yautja." he slurred. "You have no trophies and can't fight. You are nothing but a glorified aseigan." Nihkou'te growled and tightened his hands into fists. The male shoved M-di'Nan-ku, making him stagger back. "I bet you will not even show for the fight, pauk-de. I will grind you into a stain on the kehrite floors." The male stalked off, wobbling slightly.
…..
"I'll kill him." snarled Nihkou'te. "I'll slice off bits of his body-" M-di'Nan-ku stopped him with a hand.
"Do not worry, brother. Not all Yautja appreciate what we do. He will be very sorry tomorrow for the insults."
Despite Nihkou'te's anger, Guan-Thwei laughed slightly and said, "We will have some good entertainment tomorrow. M-di'Nan-ku will make the tarei'hasan eat his words."
…..
The next morning, the Jehdin/Jehdin battle began. An unusually large crowd had gathered, since this was not a typical fight. Nihkou'te's brother stood on one side and his opponent, who it turned out, had never met M-di'Nan-ku in his life, stood at the other. He looked unsure and probably regretted his drinking the night before. The Elder who would judge the match strode into the centre and announced the warriors to the crowd.
"The warrior Mct'lan has challenged the ceremonial dancer M-di'Nan-ku to Jehdin/Jehdin to settle differences in opinions. May the warrior who is speaking the truth be victorious and the warrior who is false be punished. Step forward and greet each other." They walked slowly forwards and shook each other's shoulders. M-di'Nan-ku had a rather nasty grin on his face, which did nothing for his opponent, who was likely hung-over, if Yautja could get hang-overs. The Elder strode out of the arena and the two fighters moved into their battle stances.
"You can still bow out, you know. It will be less humiliating." the abnormally tall male said, letting his voice carry throughout the whole kehrite.
"Never. I will be the victorious one, Dancer." growled Mct'lan. He swiped with both sets of claws, one after the other. M-di'Nan-ku dropped and rolled away, springing up. He dropped into his battle stance again, which was not the Hiju; instead it was more like an ooman martial arts stance. He grinned and beckoned his opponent over. Mct'lan stalked over, his hands clenched in fists. He lashed out with an uppercut… And was blocked. They began close combat, kicking and punching, slashing and gouging. As far as Matt could see, Mct'lan did not land a single blow; M-di'Nan-ku blocked every single one and landed his own powerful strikes. Green blood was soon dripping from many tiny splits and long gashes on M-di'Nan-ku's opponent.
Nihkou'te's brother called out, "You may submit if you wish!"
"NEVER!" roared Mct'lan as he pulled away to re-group. He snarled and panted and glared, though his fierce image was ruined by the blood he was spitting out and rendered comical, like a fallen bully. M-di'Nan-ku's mandibles spread in a smug grin. Mct'lan came charging again, slightly careless; his opponent snatched his wrist and drew him close while at the same time pulling him along. M-di'Nan-ku stuck out his leg and tripped him, letting go of his hand at the exact moment when he was too far to easily catch himself. Mct'lan fell heavily, smashing his face into the ground. M-di'Nan-ku bent over him, one hand behind his back, the other extended downwards, offering aid. Mct'lan seized it and yanked, planting a foot in the centre of M-di'Nan-ku's chest to help propel him along. To Mct'lan's amazement, his move did not work; instead of causing his opponent to collide head first into the ground, the dancer tucked into and ball and turned a somersault, then sprang into a series of handsprings. The watching crowd erupted into roars and laughter as M-di'Nan-ku traveled almost the entire way around the kehrite before landing, panting slightly and braced as he fought his dizziness. Humiliated, Mct'lan bellowed in rage and stampeded forwards, fist swinging out. M-di'Nan-ku was almost a moment to slow, leaning far backwards onto his hands; feet swinging up, catching Mct'lan in the chin and flinging him back. M-di'Nan-ku landed in a crouch, warily watching Mct'lan with his yellow eyes. Mct'lan held his jaw and grimaced, carefully wiggling his lower mandibles. He knew he had to be much more cautious. He began circling the crouched acrobat. M-di'Nan-ku did not turn his head. He decided to attack from behind, a mistake that he would soon regret once he woke up again. Mct'lan leaped forwards. His taloned hands closed on M-di'Nan-ku's dreadlocks. Powerful hands clamped around his wrists like steel bars. Crushing force was exerted, forcing him to let go. Then, M-di'Nan-ku jumped up, slamming his broad, hard head into Mct'lan's throat and jaw. He let go and Mct'lan plummeted downwards, completely unconscious. M-di'Nan-ku thrust his hands in the air as the audience erupted in roars and stomps. Nain-desintje-da, The Pure Win, was M-di'Nan-ku's. He had not a single scratch or bruise on his body. He crouched beside the fallen Yautja and made a big show of feeling his wrists to check if he was still alive. M-di'Nan-ku smiled suddenly and nodded, much to the laughter of the audience. He stood and bowed low, his face nearly touching the ground and then he back flipped, landing on his hands. Then, M-di'Nan-ku began walking on his hands, before flipping easily onto his feet again and running out.