Chapter Seven

Elders know best

As Zara stood in front of her father and brother, completely naked, she hissed and growled at them "YOU WILL NOT HARM MY MATE!" the elder slowly backed up with his arms out to the side. He knew there was nothing more dangerous than an angered female. He retracted his blades and motioned to Los'ark to do the same. The elder then reached up and removed his mask, it was a beautiful black and gold with many markings from past hunts. Now that she could see his face her tone softened slightly "Why have you come here father...why not send just Los'ark or one of the clan?" the elder bowed his head "Your bearer asked...commanded me to find you...that is why I am here, my youngest daughter." Zara turned to face Los'ark "And why are you here?" Los'ark lowered his axe like weapon "Father asked me to seek you out, but I must say sister...I didn't think you would pick a ooman as a mate."

To Al the whole conversation was a mystery. The three alien's had been speaking in their own language, except for the last bit, ooman was one word he did know "Zara...I'm guessing you know these guys...and why are they talking about me?" Zara looked down at Al, who was still on the floor. As she helped him up she said "Sei-i this is my father Vas'rook and my brother Los'ark." As he got to his feet Al looked over at Vas'rook and then at Los'ark. He gave the two of them a slight smile "Sorry for attacking you like that...I thought you were here to kill Zara." Vas'rook tilted his head to the side, clearly not understanding what Al had said "What is he saying Zaragoza'erk?" Zara turned to face her father "Ali'star said he is sorry for attacking you, he thought you were here to harm me." Vas'rook trilled "He is strong for a ooman...he is forgiven."

Zara told Al that her father had accepted his apologies. Al quickly realised he was still naked, as was Zara, he cleared his throat and said "I'm just gonna get dressed...you two can go sit down if you want." Zara repeated Al's words to her brother and father "I will join you shortly...once I have dressed and spoken to Al." Vas'rook tilted his head to the side "Why must you speak to him...what do you have to say to him that you can not say in front of me?" Zara turned to head into the bedroom with Al "Your wouldn't understand father."

As they walked into the bedroom Al was about to say something when out of nowhere Zara grabbed him and pushed him up against the wall. Before he knew it her tongue was in his mouth, kissing him as passionately as she could. As she pulled back from the kiss Zara rubbed her head against his, purring loudly she said "Your are mine sei-i Al?" he quickly nodded "Yours and yours alone Zara...no matter what!" Zara playful ran her claw down his chest "Let my father see your scars...it shows you are warrior...it shows you are worthy." Now it was his turn to tilt his head to the side "Worthy...worthy of what?" Zara gave a slight giggle, but her big purple eyes shined at him with passion and love "Worthy of me...worthy to be my mate...and maybe...worthy to be one of the clan." Al rested his hands on her waist "So you mean I'm gonna have to prove myself to him..." Zara nodded as she turned to pick up her armour "Sei-i" Al grabbed his jeans and began to pull them on "Then I'll do whatever I have to do...I'd do anything for you Zara...ANYTHING."

As the two lovers walked into the front room they saw Los'ark had taken a seat on the sofa. He sat there happily checking his weapons, but Vas'rook was standing in front of Al's pictures. He just stood looking at them for a moment before slowly turning to face his daughter "Theses images...he is a warrior...he carries many scars for a ooman." Zara walked over to her father "Yes father...he has told me of his victories in battle. Ali'star is brave as well as strong, when my escape ship crashed he saved me...please father...do not make me leave him." Vas'rook tilted his head and gave a slight purr "Zaragoza'erk...my youngest daughter...in love with a ooman...Paya you are a strange one. Let me speak to him...you speak better ooman than I..." Zara smiled softly at her father "I will translate for you"

Vas'rook turned towards Al, Zara repeating his words in ooman so that he could understand. Vas'rook pointed at Al "Come here ooman...let me see you." Al stepped forward, not sure how this was going to go...but he was about to find out. Vas'rook slow started to walk around him as he spoke "For saving my daughter...I thank you. From what I seen, you are strong...ready to fight for those you care for, but where we are from...that is not the only reason to fight. Would you fight for honour...for glory...for the clan?" Al watched as Vas'rook slowly circled him. He looked over at Zara at then up at Vas'rook "For Zara...I would give my life...I would do what ever you ask of me...the one thing I will not do...is walk away from her. I will do whatever I have to do to spend the rest of my life with her." Los'ark stood up and grunted "Would you give up this world...would you leave your race behind." Al nodded and then looked back at Vas'rook "Whatever is the takes...I'll do it!"

Vas'rook tilted his head to the side, how could this male, this ooman show so much resolve for a female he had only just met. This Ali'star was unlike any other ooman the elder had met before, so maybe, just maybe he was strong enough to become one of them, to join the clan. Vas'rook pointed to Zara and then at Al, in broken English he said "Ooman...Yautja...as one...Sei-i?" Zara turned to her father and spoke in their language "Does this mean that he is excepted into the clan?". The elder gently shook his head "Not yet...he still must prove himself to the others" Al watched as the two of them spoke, finally he asked "So what's going on?" Zara turned to him and purred "My father has decided that you can come with us...to our planet" Los'ark stood up and walked over to Al and Vas'rook "If it is OK with you father, I would like to train the ooman in our ways...to fight as one of us" Vas'rook nodded "Very well...we shall rest for now...Zara, tell your mate that he has until sunrise to pack" Zara told Al what her father had said and then took him by the hand "Come with me Al"

Zara took Al back to his bedroom while her father and brother settled down in the front room. She slowly wrapped her arms around him and purred gently "Are you so sure you want to leave...to come with me, be my life mate...a hunter in the clan?" he kissed her passionately and then said "I've wanted to get away from the people of this planet since the end of the war. The war messed me up...but you...you fixed me, made me feel alive aging...so of course I'm sure I want to come and build a life with you...weather it's on this planet or yours...as long as I'm with you...I'm happy"

Back in the front room Los'ark and his father were sitting on the floor in front of the fire. They had both taken off their masks, a small box in front of them. It contained a small amount of food from their world. As they ate Los'ark asked his father a question "Does you really think he will be one of us father?" Vas'rook tilted his head "Oomans are a strange race...most are weak. Some are strong, but they are not to be underestimated...in the last sixty years ooman have killed a few of our kind...in one on one combat...I look forward to seeing what this ooman is capable of" Los'ark simply clicked his tusks and smiled "And what about mother...what do you think my bearer will say?" the elder stopped eating for a moment, thinking for a moment before answering his son's question. He picked up some more of the food and then looked at his son "She will not be happy with my decision...but it will not be the first time. I am clan leader...I know what is best for my clan...and my daughter"