Thank you all for reading my story! I apologize that sometimes I switch from first person (atorah's POV) to 3rd person. Just bare with me. Sometimes a chapter just FEELS better from a specific point of view.

Atorah was right about one thing.

Her mother punished her severely for skipping out on training.

By the time her training routine was over for the day, Atorah was tempted to pass out from the strain.

"Did you think you could skip training and get away with it pup?" Her mother hissed angrily. "The Chiva is in one cycle and you are fraternizing with your competition!" She snarled at her. Atorah winced at the harsh tone in her mother's voice.

"And do not worry." She continued, "After your punishment, Rah will receive his punishment for interfering with your training too."

And she kept her promise.

Rah was black and blue after he sparred with my mother. It was no fair fight. And it was a beating that he knew would he would not escape from without marks and bruises. He was forced to apologize to Atorah for helping her skip out on training.

She hated it.

But she could understand the urgency of teaching them a lesson.

The Chiva is dangerous. It's life or death. There was a great possibility that if she passed the first trials, which would allow her to go to the Chiva, she may never return from the actual Chiva itself. Honestly, she was afraid. She was even more fearful that she was the only one of her age who was afraid too.

Yautja always seemed so stoic. Even if fear laced their entire body, they remained belligerent and prideful. Screaming into their face of their foe even if they were about to die. Atorah wasn't so sure that she could do the same thing.

But then, she's never been a fight for her life before.

"I expect better of you my child." Her mother said softly before dismissing her from her training.

The sky was beginning to blacken.

"Mother..." Atorah muttered.

Sirrah paused, "yes?"

Atorah took a deep breath, "what happened? The day my father died?"

Sirrah's teal eyes widened slightly. Her bottom tusks, adorned with small circlet jewelry lowering in deep thought.

"Are you sure you are ready to know?" Atorah's mother asked. Atorah hesitates, But her brows furrow in determination.

" I am sure."

Sirrah let out a huff. " I should have known that you would ask this before your Chiva. For some reason I always hoped that you would never wonder." Her eyes left Atorah's. Memories brought back from the deep recesses of her mind that she left them,

" you were just a little pup. Newborn. He was so...proud, of what we created together. We were returning to this planet," Her clawed finger absentmindedly pointed to the ground beneath her, "after we left to have you in peace." Sirrah's voice lowered in seriousness, "the clan ship was attacked. We do not know who or why. But the fusion core that powers the ship was heavily damaged. And preparing to implode." Atorah's eyes widened, "a clan ship was close by. They evacuated many Yautja onto the rescue ship as quickly as they could. But it too was attacked and departed with many of us left behind. Your father found an escape pod...the last one," Sirrah paused, the memory making her smell the smoke from the ship again. She had never been afraid before. But she knew fear that day. Sirrah grew even quieter, "There was only room for one Yautja...and only enough air for you and I...I had to say goodbye..."

Tears pricked Atorah's eyes, she looked down.

Emotional pain enveloped her.

It wasn't fair.

"Atorah." Her mother spoke a bit louder now. Atorah snapped her head up to her tall mother. Her sky-colored eyes were hard, haunting. Broken. Her mandibles tight as she clenched her fists at her sides. "Your father took risks and made the ultimate sacrifice to keep you alive. You will not, throw away your life for anyone during the Chiva. Do you understand? Do not be a hero. Be a survivor. A honorable warrior. Anyone who falls behind...leave them."

Atorah swallowed thickly. Her mother's eyes were harsh with authority. But behind them was pain.

"You are all I have left." Sirrah spoke quietly, before turning away from Atorah and taking her leave from the practicing area behind their home.

The weight on Atorah's shoulders increased dramatically.

A week past one with more and more training. Atorah's arms and legs hurt. Her whole body was sore and bruised. But she was stronger for it. Even at one point becoming a tad prideful, before he uncle taught her painful lesson about pride during a quick sparring session.

It was all worth it.

Atorah had never felt so confident in her own skin.

It was the day before trials and Atorah spent most of her day practicing forms and exercising. Undoubtedly nervous. Time couldn't seem to go fast enough. Again she wondered if her Yautja counterparts felt such nervousness about these things too. Or if her fears and worries were just from her human side.

At some point she just gave up trying to busy herself. Overwhelmed and tired, Atorah brought her legs to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Hot sun rays beat upon her back as she just sat still. Atorah wasn't sure how long she had stayed in that position until her head snapped up upon feeling a gentle touch on her knee. Rah's surprised silver stare under her large brow watched her until he green wide. His mandibles spreading, showing off sharp teeth in his inner mouth.

"Rah? What are you doing here?" Atorah asked.

"The real question is, what are you doing here?"

Atorah scrunched her brows,

"I am home, why wouldn't I be here?" She chuckled. Rah, reached out to help her get to her feet. His large blackened hand covered hers completely.

"There is a festival tonight for the eligible warriors going to trials tomorrow. Plenty of c'nlip (alcohol) to share with everyone." Rah told her.

"I assume you want me to go?"

"I will need someone to keep me from engaging in drunken brawls."

Atorah lightly laughed,"I wouldn't dare get in your way during a fight." She jokes as Rah led her to the festival out in the wooded area of the wilds.