Drok'ti laid there and watched Strife sleep. He was so happy to be here with her. What was he going to do about it? Eventually he had to return to Lau'thalus, but would he risk taking Strife with him? No. He couldn't risk getting her killed for his rash actions. He knew the clan leader wouldn't be happy and would order the girl to be killed right away. Maybe he wouldn't return to Lau'thalus. Bringing on the wrath of the Arbitrators wasn't something he wanted to do either. He would have to think about this for a long time. For now though, he could lay here and sleep next to Strife, exactly where he wanted to be.

Drok'ti woke up the next day when he heard Strife whining. He opened his eyes and didn't see her. He sat up and looked around. She was curled up against the wall on the other side of the ship.

"What's wrong?"

He stood up to go comfort her. She flung her arms out in front of her.

"Stay back!"

He stopped and furrowed his brow ridges.

"What is it?"

"Don't come near me! There's something wrong with me!"

Drok'ti snorted at her. How could he leave her when she was in a state like this? He didn't understand what was happening to her. He didn't listen. He walked over and picked Strife up. She covered her face with her hands and started crying.

"What's wrong? Talk to me!"

He shook her and she looked at him.

"Please, Drok'ti, get away from me. I don't know what is going on, something isn't right. Get as far away from me as you can."

"No, Strife. I'm not going to leave you."

Strife's hands shot out and wrapped around Drok'ti's neck. He snorted and looked at her.

"Drok'ti, get away!"

He felt her grip tighten as she started to choke him. He looked at her. She wasn't hurting him at all physically, but it was hurting his heart that she wanted him to die. Why was she doing this? He let her go and she dropped to the floor. She was crying so hard. He didn't know what to do so he did the only thing he could think to do. He knocked Strife out cold. He stood there for a moment in a daze. What is wrong with Strife and what can he do to help her? He picked her up and took her to Alvorus. He might be able to do something.

Once he was at the camp he roared for Alvorus to come out of the tent. Alvorus strode out and looked at Drok'ti.

"Can I help you?"

"Something is wrong with her."

"What could be wrong?"

"She tried to kill me."

"Really now? I wonder what would cause her to do that."

Drok'ti didn't like the way Alvorus was acting. He was too calm.

"Why did you do this to her?"

Alvorus turned and met Drok'ti's glare.

"Well, the beast has a brain. I did it because I knew you would bring her back here. And if you were to bring her back here then we could capture you."

Drok'ti dropped Strife and extended his wrist blades. He felt a sting in his neck and the world went fuzzy and then very dark.

He didn't know how long he had been out, but when he came about his head felt like it was swimming. He looked around for Strife, but he couldn't find her. Then he remembered. That creature had set him up and captured him. He ran his hands along the door to the cell he was being kept in to try and find a way to get out. There wasn't so much as a draft in the door. He roared and started slamming his fists against it as a man walked past. The man turned to him and said something in a language Drok'ti didn't understand, then typed something into a computer. Drok'ti flared his mandibles at the man as he stepped closer to Drok'ti's pen. Drok'ti slammed all his weight against the door and roared. The man jumped back and Drok'ti would have laughed if he wasn't so angry.

He walked over to the corner of the room and crouched down. He has to get back to Strife and help her. If she wasn't all right he swore he would take vengeance against anyone that got in his way.