Chapter 10: Demonstration
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
WARNING: Rated MA for intense and graphic sexual content. Viewer discretion is advised. Read at your own risk!
After getting to the lower levels of CHPS, I calmed down a bit but not enough for Lar'ja. He remained quiet throughout the entire walk to my room but I suspected due to my earlier outburst towards Rory. The silence was unbearable but it gave me time to observe his body out of the corner of my eye.
The last time I saw him, Lar'ja was very built but not too much. He was well balanced with the muscle ratio. A great male Yautja that any female would want. I shook my head before a dirty thought crossed my mind. Come on now, Anya. Not now . . .
But when I checked on him again, he was . . . different. His body was much thinner than I remembered. Some of his ribs could barely be seen through his skin. My eyes went lower and saw a few marks on his knuckles that resembled blisters. Some of his dreadlocks were cut short by a sharp blade. Was he fighting something hard? It somewhat explains his armor. It wasn't the same one he wore before and rough on the edges of the shoulder pads. The one thing that truly concerned me was the red X mark on his abdomen. It looked like it was made with a hot iron, burning into his skin. What happened to you, Lar'ja? There were instances I was becoming too impatient, wanting to ask him during our walk but I turned away when he glanced at me. I was nervous but determined to know.
Relief came when we made it to our room and headed inside. I sighed and placed my knife in the cabinet where my armor was stored. "Okay. Now that's done and over with, why don't you tell me about—"
I was cut short when Lar'ja grabbed ahold of me as I turned. His arms trapped me in a cage while his inner mouth pressed on mine to keep from speaking. I moaned when his tongue searched for me, touching every part of my mouth as it entered. His hands rubbed all over my back where my skin was exposed. The desire to have him was growing. My body wanted him but my head had something else in mind.
"Lar'ja . . . Wait."
"Anya . . ."
He shut my mouth again with another kiss and I muffled in frustration. Please. I need to ask you. He breaks away from me, only to lick my shoulder at the right spot that sent pleasure through my body and between my legs. I threw my head back from the sudden sensation but I stood my ground, deciding to end this when I felt his claws start ripping my shirt from the collar.
"Lar'ja! Stop!"
He jerks back as if I shocked him. His pupils were dilated but full of shock. "What's wrong?"
I took a minute to get my breath back, moving my hands to push on his chest enough that he wasn't towering over me but I could still touch him. The warmth he gave was comforting. "As much as I badly want you, I want to know what happened to you."
"To me?"
I nodded. "Yes. you've changed since I'd last seen you. Your body is scarred badly and you weren't well at headquarters."
My eyes wandered to the red X scar on his abdomen but I didn't dare to push further. He looked nervous when I asked such a simple question. For a Yautja to react like that, it must have been too horrific, even more, so that it's Lar'ja I was talking to. Probing carefully was the best way to go at it. I'll have to tread carefully. But seeing him struggle to stand up and sweat profusely, he had gone through something bad . . . very bad. I stepped closer and gently let my fingers glide over his skin.
"Tell me what happened."
I kept my eyes on his golden ones. He didn't say anything until he pulled away, sitting on the edge of the bed. I thought I did something wrong until he padded on the open spot next to him. Cautiously, I sat by his side, waiting for him to speak. He instantly jumped to his story and I listened carefully.
"When Xen'ork and I were sent to Sic'it, we were ambushed by the Killer Yautja. It was a trap they set for us all along. We fought as hard as we could but they overpowered us. In the end, we were captured and imprisoned. They stripped us of everything. Armor . . . weapons . . . our ship . . . everything. We became their prisoners, tortured for their amusement while starving us."
I shuddered silently when I heard Lar'ja was taken prisoner along with Xen'ork. But I shouldn't have been surprised. Hakr'ouh explained much about the sentinel planet's being traps and I knew before my Elites were sent out. It explains how thin he was and the scars all over his arms and legs. I could only imagine what they did to him. My eyes looked back at his abdomen as he lowered his eyes to the floor.
"Did they . . . do that . . . to you?"
Lar'ja turns his head to me, following where I nodded. He looks down at the red X scar and he turns away in disgust, clicking his mandibles. "They did."
My heart dropped. They did that to him . . . It has been known for Bad Bloods to mark prisoners as their slaves. Branding them with their clan symbol using brutal methods was how they did it. I felt anger boiling inside me. I should have known that the Killer Yautjas would do this to Lar'ja. They were merciless in their Hunts so what made me think they would not take the opportunity to torture the enemy? I shuddered, thinking of what they did to Sa'iye, Za'hir and everyone else.
"Do you know if they have anyone else as a prisoner? Like my Elites?"
I was afraid to ask at first but I had no more of a clue of what happened to them than Lar'ja. Still, I didn't want to push him. He shifts in his spot, sitting up straight as his eyes glanced at me. He looked at me with worry, most likely thinking of how I'll react.
"I don't know. We didn't hear anything when we were locked away, only getting pieces of info from Bad Bloods conversing with one another. All we knew was that they've taken Yautja Prime and killed all those who resisted. They didn't say much about the other prisoners . . . but I heard worse."
"Worse?"
He flinched away as if I hurt him. Out of pity, I reached out for him but stopped midway before pulling back. I feared it was only going to make things worse. I have him talking . . . but I can't push it. I watched as he took a deep breath as he put his hands together.
"Word got to me that my father, Lord Daugo, was killed and that you . . ."
All of a sudden, I could smell blood. When I followed the scent, I realized it was coming from Lar'ja digging his claws into his knees. Small droplets ran down his legs, scaring me. His anger was being displayed clearly but I also sensed pain and despair and it tugged at my heart.
"You . . . died when your ship crashed. I didn't want to believe it. But over time . . . I began to lose hope. I was lost."
He lets go of his knees, letting his arms go limp to drape over his thighs. It was completely silent and I refused to budge, waiting for the right moment to comfort him. To see him like this . . . finding out that his father and lifemate was dead . . . I ground my teeth to control the anger inside me. I thought about what I would do if our positions were switched. Just when I thought he was done, he continues again.
"But I knew you wouldn't give up if you were me. You are what kept me going."
Finally, he lifts his eyes back to me. This time, they weren't full of despair but rather, I saw a speck of hope that made his golden eyes shine. I smiled a little, knowing that he didn't entirely give up.
"After some time had passed, Xen'ork and I managed to escape by disguising ourselves as one of their own, getting our ship and equipment back. We were gone before they realized what happened."
That explains the poor quality armor both of them were wearing. Clever.
"And then you came to Earth?"
He nodded. "The Bad Bloods would have come here first to finish what they've started. But this was also the place you cared about very much and would protect with your life . . . where Rory and the others are." He pauses. "And when we first met. It was the only solace I could find. The only place with good memories."
His eyes softened. His hand reaches to my cheek, rubbing gently over it. I closed my eyes and inhaled the sweet spring rain that was all over him. "Little did I know that you were here . . . and alive. How did you get here?"
I opened my eyes when he asked. I didn't hesitate to tell him my side of the story. I told him everything from finding out about Hakr'ouh's plans to ending up surviving the crash. Lar'ja listened carefully as I finished.
"After that, I dedicated to hunting every Bad Blood on Earth to protect it until I met Rory and everyone else along with CHPS a few days ago. It was kind of ironic though." I giggled. "I thought Rory was a Bad Blood and vise versa so we got into a fight. Only when I revealed who I was that we recognized each other."
Lar'ja tilts his head in curiosity."Really?"
"Really. It's a funny story afterward. Something that Rory keeps nagging me about."
I smiled, looking down at the floor as I reminisced about that time. Someone would think I was crazy for thinking it was a good thing to almost get killed by your brother from another mother but it was. After a minute, my smile slowly faded. I need to tell him . . . something that he needs to hear. I looked back up to him and our eyes met once more.
"Daugo sacrificed himself to help me escape. I know he's not perfect but he died a true warrior. I thought you oughta know."
The relationship between Lar'ja and Daugo as father and son wasn't the best. After hearing a bit from both sides, Lar'ja should know that his father was trying his best to reconnect with him. He not only protected me but in some way, Daugo wanted his son to be happy. And I think that's the reason he did what he did. For me . . . for my mother . . . and for Lar'ja.
I watched him carefully, seeing what his reaction would be. In the end, he closed his eyes. I assumed that he didn't fully trust my word for it but I gave my story. What he does with it is up to him. A minute passed before he spoke.
"I know."
He gives a gentle smile and leans his head on mine. "Guess I owe him then. But I'm glad you're here."
I chuckled happily, pressing back on him. He purrs and the vibrations run throughout my body. It served to spark something between my legs. Immediately, my core began to moisten, increasing the pleasure that was growing stronger. I need him . . . It has been too long.
"I want you."
His sweet voice, followed by another purr, locked me on him. All my willpower to resist was out of the room and I gladly released it. Without hesitation, we kissed once more. Again, his tongue reached into my mouth, battling my own. He tastes so good. His mandibles caressed my cheeks and I was gone.
After that, we moved very fast.
It barely reached my brain that Lar'ja pushed me down on the bed, encasing over me. Breaking the kiss, Lar'ja began to rip off his armor. It almost seemed like he was way too eager to take them off. I can't blame him. It belonged to a Bad Blood no less. I watched as he stripped himself of all clothing, staring down at me in all of his naked glory. My blood burned in ecstasy as I looked up and down his body, seeing his cock fully enlarged.
He smirked. "Like what you see?"
I chuckled. "Of course."
Lar'ja watches as I stripped my clothing, deliberately at a slow pace. I could see his fingers tingle, wanting to touch me. My shirt was easy to take off since he already began to tear the top of it earlier. My pants and undergarments were gone in a flash, leaving me fully exposed to him. His eyes wandered up and down my body. His mandibles would click in delight and I smiled at his response. But I wasn't done with him yet. Slowly, I let my hand travel down my body while the other stopped at my breast, pinching my nipple. The sensation it provided was double, knowing Lar'ja was watching intently. When my hand reached between my legs, I spread my legs and let my fingers do the work. My breath hitched when I rubbed my clit, growing labored with Lar'ja watching. The things I was doing turned him on. His pupils dilated even more and his mandibles twitched.
My body turned into an oven. Beads of sweat were forming on my skin. I pushed my fingers inside my core. I moaned softly, imagining it was Lar'ja doing these things. But no sooner did I begin to gyrate my hips into thrusts that Lar'ja couldn't take it anymore. He springs on me like a wild animal, pressing down on me with such force that the wind was knocked out of me for a moment. I wrapped my arms around and on his back, digging my nails into his skin as he plunged his cock deep inside me with one hard thrust. I threw my head backward, giving Lar'ja access to nibble on my neck and getting that magic spot. I could hear him ripping the sheets next to my head but he doesn't relent. His thrusts became harder and faster, unlike anything I felt before. Well . . . you haven't mated with him in six months. Even so, the feeling of pleasure he brought back wonderful memories of him and me together. To have him next to me was more than enough. Being with him like this was a reality that I would never again have.
My legs began to quiver, moving of their own accord to wrap around his waist. But just when I felt my orgasm coming, Lar'ja began to slow down. It gnawed at my attention and I opened my eyes to see that something was wrong.
Lar'ja was breathing harshly, not out of pleasure but exhaustion and I recognized it immediately. He began to drip sweat much like before at headquarters. He began to struggle to keep up the pace as his eyes were shut tight in concentration. I began to worry. He's too tired. His body can't take it.
Pushing through the pleasure, I reached for his cheeks and pulled him closer. His eyes shot open and his movements halted, seeing the worry in my eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah . . . I'm fine."
His voice was weak too. He tried to go back to mating but I stopped him, wiggling out from underneath him. I gasped slightly when his cock slipped out of me. He stared with shock as if I did something wrong. I kept a straight face as much as possible. "You're not well, Lar'ja."
"I said . . ." He had to pause. "I was fine."
"No, you're not. You're pushing yourself when you should rest."
I should have known better. I got too wrapped up in mating with him that I forgot what he endured. His body wasn't at full strength and I feared he might have strained himself to the limit. I crawled back to him, resting my hands on his shoulders. They were drenched in sweat upon contact. "I think you should lie down."
His golden eyes flickered for a moment. "No."
"But why?"
He takes a deep breath. "It has been too long since I touched you like this. I'm afraid that any moment you'll be gone. Please . . ."
This time, he was begging. It struck me in surprise and my eyes widened. Even though he knew he wasn't well, Lar'ja wanted nothing more than to be with me. Somehow, he had a way to use simple sentences to tug at my heartstrings. My core burned in intensity once more. But in all honesty . . . deep down . . . I felt the same.
I knew there was no arguing with Lar'ja but I didn't want him to hurt himself more. I decided to try something. "Here."
I grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer as I laid on my side with my back towards him. He looked at me with confusion until I yanked him until he was lying next to me. His chest pressed on my back as I wrapped his arm around my waist. I twisted my head to look into his eyes.
"Please . . ."
I couldn't deny him anymore. All my willpower was destroyed as I leaned my forehead on his lower mandible, closing my eyes as I took in his scent. It didn't take long for Lar'ja to get the message and his arm locked around me. In no time, he plunges his cock inside me once more, earning a deep moan from my lips. His chest pushes against me while his mouth goes for my throat once more. This time, he didn't go as fast as before. His thrusts were slow and deep but it was exhilarating, having the same effect as before as his hot breath tickled me. All I could do was follow his movements, moaning in sync with his thrusts and feeling his cock go deep into my core.
At one point, Lar'ja lifts my leg by the knee to give better access and goes faster. I only lasted a few more moments before I cummed hard, screaming with all my might. Lar'ja follows suit and roars in ecstasy, spilling his seed inside me. My whole body trembled in the aftermath but the satisfying feeling was worth it.
I giggled. "I don't think I can ever get enough. Right, Lar'ja?"
I called him but got no response. "Lar'ja?"
Again, no answer. Instead, he lets go of my hand and his arm slumps on me. His whole body went limp next to me. Worried that he pushed himself too hard once again, I looked back and realized that Lar'ja was fast asleep. What the . . ? Yautjas were well known for their sexual stamina and Lar'ja was no exception. We could have continued throughout the night if he wasn't weak from the start.I watched as he took a deep breath, letting it out in a sound that reminded me of a snore. I chuckled, shaking my head. I can't believe him. I glanced back at him. But he does look cute like this.
"Oy vey, Lar'ja. Oy vey."
I twisted my body until I was facing him, scooting closer until our bodies were touching. I wrapped one arm over his waist while I let the other trace his chest. He shifted a bit but stayed asleep, only pulling me closer to him. I watched him sleep contently until my eyes began to droop. It wasn't long before I fell asleep next to him, smiling.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Come on, Molly! Try again!"
"But it's so hard!"
About a week had passed since Lar'ja and Xen'ork arrived and things were going smoothly to my surprise. Rory made sure that both weren't disturbed too much by those who were either interested in them or wanting to kill them in their sleep. The letter was unlikely but it made me nervous in the beginning. Now, Lar'ja goes on small hunts to get some food to eat while Xen'ork spent a lot of time with Rory. I was glad that they were coming closer together as friends. I mean . . . this is Xen'ork we're talking about. So I haven't seen much of either of them in a while, only noticing them talking about developing weapons.
For now, I took the time to train Molly at the training ring as I promised. She was quick about getting the basics, which is the most critical. Having a weak stance could end up a death sentence if up against a trained opponent like a Yautja. I had to give some credit since I was not wearing armor that was very heavy if you're not used to it. I only had leggings and a sports bra so I didn't have much to slow me down. But she was having difficulty in thinking a few steps ahead and plotting on making the next move. Observing what your opponent was going to do next is crucial. We did roundhouses and kicks for practice but Molly failed when implementing them in a real fight. In the end, she would end up on her back.
I crossed my arms, waiting for her to stand back up. "I'm only going easy on you. It'll be worse when you face someone that won't hold back."
She grunts, shaking the dirt off herself. "I know that. It's so hard. How did you do it?"
"Two seasons of practice and Hunts. Or twenty years in ooman standards."
"Really!?"
Molly huffed, throwing her head down in frustration. I struggled not to giggle so no one would hear me but it wasn't necessary with our 'audience' looking from outside the ring.
"You're in big trouble now, Molly."
Dallas leaned into the ring with a smirk on his face. Molly puffed her cheeks in anger. "Shut up!"
It was kind of funny to see Dallas poking at Molly's ego like a bear. If she's angry enough, she can kill you, Dallas. Mike was next to Dallas, nodding his head as if he knew what I thought. It took a while to warm up to Mike but after watching a few training sessions, it seemed to begin admiring the lessons and eventually me. But remained silent as usual. I didn't mind.
Molly gets back into her stance, putting her fists in the air. "I'm ready."
I nodded. "Alright then."
I didn't give her any warning and charged. Her reflexes were improving greatly, shown when she dodged my punch. She swings around until she was behind me, quickly sending a roundhouse aimed at my hips. But I expected she would go straight for it instead of testing me. In an instant, I dropped flat on the ground. Her leg missed by a few inches. Her stance was compromised and I took the opportunity. With a light swing of my leg, Molly loses balance and falls on her back yet again. Without hesitation, I pinned her down with one knee and put a fist inches from her face.
She breathed heavily while I was calm, barely losing any breath. "Submit."
"Never."
I smirked. At least she's got the spirit of a Yautja. It was the one lesson that etched in her brain and is shown in her conviction. I stood up and waited for Molly to get back on her feet. "You've done well. But again, you need to anticipate your opponent's next move. Test them instead of going fully unless you know you have them."
She sighs. "I know."
She looked defeated but she did a good job. I walked to her and patted her shoulder. "That's enough for today. Take a break."
Molly nods, walking over to the edge of the ring and sliding out to sit on a nearby chair.
"That was impressive."
Dallas started to clap his hands, praising me. I shook my head with a smile. "It's nothing compared to other Yautjas. I still have much to learn."
Dallas laughs. "Man . . . if my brother was here, he would have volunteered to learn from you."
"Your brother?"
"Yup. His name was Ricky."
I tilted my head to the side. "You should bring him some time. I can show a few tricks like with Molly."
But as soon as I said that, his demeanor changed. Dallas drops his head to the ground and his shoulder slump. I shut my mouth quickly, thinking I may have offended him in some way. "I'm sorry if I spoke so casually."
Dallas looks back to me in a flash, putting up a fake smile. "It's alright. You don't know." He shifts from one foot to another. "He died a few years ago fighting with a gang for drugs."
I gasped. "Drugs?"
"Yeah. I mean . . . we lost our home when the military blasted it to bits with a bomb. An attempt to destroy a swarm of those black creatures you call kainde amedha along with a Yautja and Predalien. After that, he wasn't the same. Always getting into bad situations and it killed him in the end."
My heart clamped up. Hearing that his brother and himself go through so much from an infestation. It sounded like the incident of an Elite Yautja taking care of it before my time. He died honorably but I never heard of the other casualties . . . until now.
"I'm so sorry."
He chuckles, pulling my attention to him in confusion. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault. At least I can be here to make sure it doesn't happen again. I wouldn't have known about this place without Kelly."
"Kelly?"
"Molly's mother."
"Oh."
I took a glance at Molly who wasn't paying much attention to our conversation, talking to someone else. "Did she die too?"
I knew it was rude to ask but my curiosity got the best of me. Dallas shook his head. "No. She survived as well but ended up in an institution for a mental disorder. Molly doesn't talk about her much. But then again, their relationship was estranged with her mother being in the military and all."
I nodded my head. It's understandable. It almost felt like it was the same with my mother. Back at the facility, she would disappear for a few days before coming back. I didn't think much about it at the time, too innocent as a child to notice. "I see."
"But Mike is a brute when it comes to fighting back in his youth. Right, Mike?"
I turned my head, seeing Dallas poke his elbow in Mike's ribs. He didn't appreciate it and shoved back at him. "Quit it, Dallas!"
I squinted my eyes to Mike. It was hard to imagine an old man like himself to be a brute. The personality fits the description but his physical state said otherwise. "Really?"
Dallas smiled. "Yup. He's the only few that'd taken down a Yautja himself along with Dutch. A mean-looking one hunted in L.A. and he won. But then again, he was a cop. Does that make him one of you?"
"You really need to mind other people's business."
Mike shoved Dallas out of the way as he walked off, looking rather annoyed. At least I got a bit more information. It was impressive to learn that he defeated a trained Yautja in single combat. Any Yautja who saw prey win was shown respect but it wasn't enough to be deemed a warrior, only serving to be a bigger target for other Yautjas to hunt.
I turned to Dallas. "Not necessarily. To be a Blooded warrior, you have to go through a Chiva, a hunting ritual, and kill a kainde amedha. You're then recognized as one with the mark of your clan."
I pointed to my forehead, showing the Dark Blade Clan symbol. Dallas leans to get a closer look. "Impressive. So all you have to do is go through this Chiva and you're in."
"Not exactly. It takes many seasons of training before you can even participate."
All of us turned to see Lar'ja walking to us, wearing only a loincloth, wrist gauntlets, leg braces and a piece of shoulder armor. He had a few weapons attached on his belt but it didn't hide the fact that his body was no longer skinny. In just a few days of eating and exercising from all the hunts, his muscles were almost back to their former glory. It's surprising how little time Yautjas need to get back into shape. At least he's doing better.
Molly comes over to Lar'ja as I got out of the training ring. "I should have known. Anya was pretty amazing."
I blushed when Lar'ja turned to me with intrigue on his face. "That's because I fought other Yautjas before. This is nothing."
"Then why don't you demonstrate for us how to fight one?"
My eyes widened when I heard Dallas's suggestion, glancing for a second at Lar'ja. Me? Fight Lar'ja? In front of everyone? It wasn't just Dallas and Molly looking with interest. Everyone close enough to hear began to poke their heads towards us. Some even stopped what they were doing and slowly began coming towards us. I gave Lar'ja and 'what the fuck' face before going back to Dallas.
"I don't know . . ."
"Aww. Come on, Anya. Are you afraid of losing?"
My pride as a Yautja warrior snapped awake when Molly said that. If she said it out loud to any Yautja warrior, she would have been in trouble for initiating a fight. Yautjas pride themselves in their honor and to have anyone mock it was asking for a death sentence. As for me, I had enough logic to back off when it thought it unnecessary. "Well . . ."
But Lar'ja made it worse. "I agree. Are you afraid?"
His eyes formed into slits, staring at me with mischievous intent. His mandibles opened slightly like he was about to laugh. I grumbled deep in my throat. Lar'ja . . . you pauking bastard. You are asking for it. I knew he was teasing but I wasn't going to back down from a fight, even if it was him. I decided to tease him back, crossing my arms together while smirking.
"I'll accept your challenge. Unless you thought I wasn't going to agree."
A vein at the top of his head popped but his cockiness was still there. "You're on."
"Hmm." Oh, you're going to get it for that.
Without a moment to lose, I got back into the training ring with Lar'ja following. I went to the opposite corner from where Lar'ja stood, seeing Molly, Dallas, and others inching closer, surrounding us. It made me nervous so I kept my focus on Lar'ja. He flexes his knuckles, popping each time.
He spoke in Yautja. "I won't go easy on you."
I huffed. "Who said anything about going easy?"
I moved slowly into a crouch, leaning on my back leg for preparation. Lar'ja matches me, holding his claws out for all to see, mostly for my eyes to intimidate. I'm not buying that. I lowered my head, keeping my eyes on Lar'ja as he twitched his mandibles. I felt like a predator going after its prey. Like a Yautja would.
We didn't need a countdown as some would suggest. All I needed was Lar'ja to inch his foot closer and I took off. I lunged at him with full force.
I didn't hesitate to change into my Yautja form, not daring to hold back. I was a full Yautja in a split second and I could see a spark of shock in his eyes. I let out a roar as a diversion to snap his concentration and it did the trick. Before he could react, I grabbed his forearm and threw him into the air. He grunts in pain and lets out another one when I slammed him to the ground. Like with Molly, I pinned him down with my knee, leaning down to spread my mandibles close to his face.
"Submit."
He didn't say or at least without words. I heard cheers and screams of excitement around me. The crowd was getting into this. But just as I thought I was victorious, Lar'ja smiled, confusing me. Why is he acting so cocky?" But I realized a second later what it meant when he pulled me by the neck to let his tongue glide on my lower mandibles. My eyes shot wide open, looking down at his smirk. He used that split moment as a distraction. He bends his knee so that his foot got underneath my abdomen, pushing my body up and forcing me to roll off of him. Despite what he said earlier, Lar'ja made sure to hold back, only pushing hard enough to get me off of him. Still, my stomach didn't appreciate it.
I got back on my feet around the same time he did. I growled playfully. "That was a dirty trick."
I knew he did that to distract me. He knew all too well that I get embarrassed with people watching. The small group of oomans grew in size, doubling from the beginning. My vein in my head began to pop in anger. Lar'ja saw this and chuckled. "You need to keep focus. Your words, not mine."
Oh . . . that's it.
I shook my head, letting my dreadlocks slap over my shoulders as I rushed at him yet again. But this time, I was more calculated. Expecting that I was going to pull the same move, Lar'ja pulls his forearms back, positioning his legs like he was about to kick me. Nice try. Right as I was inches apart from him, I immediately changed back to my ooman form. His widened eyes told me he wasn't expecting it and I couldn't blame him. Being in ooman form wasn't as powerful as my Yautja side but it has its advantages. Maneuvering into tight spots was one of them. I slid between Lar'ja's legs, grabbing on his ankles and yanked hard. He fell flat on his face and I had him where I wanted him. He tries to get up quickly but I pinned him down once more, using my hands on his wrists and my feet on his thighs. He was trapped. Lar'ja growled in dissatisfaction, knowing he was beaten.
Still, I wanted to hear the words. I leaned down until my lips were against his cheek. "Submit."
Lar'ja tried to thrash around to break my hold but it was useless . . . and he knew it. I would hurt his pride to admit it. Male Yautjas hated to give up like this. Still, he had no choice. After a minute of silence, he relented.
"Yes . . ."
I chuckled, whispering next to his cheek. "Good."
The crowd's cheer grew in volume, no doubt knowing who the winner was. I got off of Lar'ja, stepping back as he got to his feet. He glares for a minute at me but he softens, looking at me with pride in his eyes. I smiled, humming in satisfaction. Beat that, Lar'ja.
"That was awesome!"
Molly jumps into the ring full of excitement, holding her arms out in joy. "That was the greatest fight I've ever seen!"
I chuckled. "That was just practice. Not even close to what a real fight would be."
"Still, you were both impressive."
Dallas calls out from outside the ring. "I agree with her. Shows us a few things on how to fight Bad Bloods when they come."
I shrugged my shoulders. He was right though. I haven't heard any reports of kainde amedha or Bad Bloods sightings, which was very strange to me. However, I was too busy with Lar'ja and everything else to focus my attention solely on it. Still, it's only a matter of time before this brief moment is gone and chaos takes over. For now, I was happy.
"Well . . . I had enough excitement for one day. I need to get some fresh air."
"Then why don't we go hunting together?"
Lar'ja walks over to me, holding me gently by my shoulders. He leans his mouth closer and elicits a soft purr."We can get some food for dinner tonight."
I raised my eyebrows in question. Whenever he suggested it for the last few days, it would always end up in with us mating and we wouldn't go hunting at all. Despite the temptation, I needed some fresh air. I pulled my face away from him. "Then we should go. It won't be long before it becomes dark and the best prey will be harder to find. I want to eat fresh meat."
Gently, I tugged out of Lar'ja's hold. He looked down in shock until I raised my eyebrows up and down, smiling in mischief, whispering low enough that only he could hear. "Then we can have our time."
That got Lar'ja on board. His demeanor rose in excitement like a young pup ready to learn a new trick. I chuckled, turning towards the door leading to the outside with Lar'ja following.
"Can I come too?"
I stopped in my tracks and turned around when I heard what Molly asked. "You?"
She nods. I thought about it for a moment, wondering if it was even safe for her to come. I didn't get the chance to say my opinion before Lar'ja interrupted. "No."
Molly pouted her lips. "Why not?"
"It's dangerous even if it's a small hunt. Plus, we have to be careful of kainde amedha and Bad Bloods that might be lurking out there. You're not ready."
I watched as Molly drops her head in disappointment. Lar'ja is right though. Molly had a long way to go before she's ready to go out, especially with enemies out there. But at the same time, I thought it would be beneficial for her to learn. I always believed that real experience is the greatest teacher you can have and showing her how we hunt could be good for training.
"I think she should come."
"What?"
Lar'ja looks at me in utter shock, lasting only a few seconds before his golden eyes darkened. "It's not safe for her."
"Which is why we'll keep an eye on her. It's not unusual for a pup to join a small hunt with their parents to learn how to fight."
"But—"
I pressed a finger on his inner mouth, stopping him. "But nothing. We'll be able to watch her without a problem and we won't be out for long. Come on."
I didn't know if it would work but I gave my best puppy-eyed face I could deliver. I wasn't sure if I was doing it right but it worked. Lar'ja couldn't resist, seeing his resolve disintegrate from his face. Despite the risk, he relents. "Alright. But not for long."
I jumped when I heard Molly screech like a little girl. How can she act like that when she's a grown woman? But the smile on her face warmed my chest. It was like an infection I couldn't get away from.
"Perfect. I'll get my weapons and meet you outside."
She took off before I could say anymore. It was funny to see her scrambling to her room and almost knocked down a man carrying packages. I tightened my lips to hold back the laughter. She's so silly.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
I heard the concern in his voice, knowing he was nervous bringing along an ooman like her. I turned to face him, rubbing his arms. "I'm sure. She needs to train and this will be good for her."
Dallas spoke. "I think so too. Plus, it will give this place some peace for once."
I turned back to Lar'ja. "See?"
Lar'ja sighs. "Alright. We best get going then. But don't think you're off the hook."
I rolled my eyes. I knew too well he was talking about what will happen in the bedroom. "Fine. Come on."
I started walking towards the elevator that leads to the outside, pulling Lar'ja along with me. I was looking forward to an easy hunt with him and teaching Molly a few things. But if I had known what was going to happen next . . . what the consequences would be . . . I would have never gone. Little did I realize that this would set off a chain of events that would put everyone in jeopardy.
Hello Everyone!
It never gets old when they come together once more. I could feel such pain in Lar'ja and I couldn't blame him. How was he to know when the Bad Bloods will use anything to get at him? His experience of being a prisoner will be shown in Perspective when it begins posting.
I'm glad Anya is taking the time to train Molly on some fighting skills. They will come useful when the real danger comes and from the end of the chapter, there's no doubt danger will follow.
But what is it? And how will it play a part in starting a chain reaction that will endanger everyone she knows and loves? Will it end badly?
Find out when Chapter 11 (Taking a Risk) is posted by next week (Friday the latest).
Thank you for Mariah, Anonymous-E, and NeverNeverLady for the reviews on Chapter 9.
I hope I answered some questions regarding our ooman characters. More will come as the story goes. And of course, when it comes to Anya, it always pours. Lol.
P.S. A chapter for The Ripple of a Stone (Part 2) might be delayed. I have a family emergency that needs to be taken care of. I hope all of you understand.
Thank you and Good Hunting! :)))
Reading notes:
Normal = Anya (human form) or any human speaking English (ooman language)
Italic = Anya (human form) or any human speaking Yautja
Bold = Any Yautja speaking English (ooman language)
Bold and Italic = Any Yautja speaking Yautja language