Atorah stared down T'uhtell. Forcing herself to look up at the 7ft tall female for what seemed like minutes before T'uhtell spat at Atorah's feet and directed her angry gaze at Cuda,
"My father will be hearing about how you came out of the woods with a half breed." She sneered, "smelling full of musk at that," she burned holes into him with her fiery gaze, "that half breed will never bring you honor and trophies. She will never bring you good pups...she's probably sterile."
Sterile?
How dare she!?
Suddenly and without warning Atorah lunges at T'uhtell. Her nails reaching the beautiful Yautja's face before Rah or Cuda could even think of restraining her. T'uhtell didn't even have time to defend herself when Atorah's nails caught her cheek. The next blow came from Atorah's fist as it made contact with T'uhtell's crowned forehead, breaking her hard skin and exposing the fluorescent green blood underneath.
T'uhtell roared with both surprise and uncontrollable fury. Atorah felt strong arms around her waist, pulling her off of the offensive Yautja. She roared and thrashed against whoever was holding her back. Cursing at them with tears burning her eyes.
T'uhtell was back on her feet and charging towards Atorah. When Cuda grabbed the female Yautja and held her flush against him with a strong purr to get her to stop. This only angered Atorah more.
"Sterile? Sterile!? How pauking dare you!? If I were so sterile you wouldn't see my as such a threat!" Atorah screamed at T'uhtell as Rah held her back.
"Let me go Cuda! I am going to kill that pest!" T'uhtell roared back.
"Come on! Do it! Do it! Come here and try it!" Atorah bared her teeth. Fighting against Rash's grip as he tried a steady purr deep within his chest to calm Atorah. To his surprise, she was much stronger than she looked. His grip was slipping as she kicked and twisted around to fight him off.
"I will not let you go until you calm." Rah spoke into her ear.
Tears flowing, teeth bared, hair wild and nails covered in green blood, the half breed slowly ceased her wild thrashing. Atorah hung her head as her limbs relaxed. T'uhtell must have received the same message because she had calmed too. Her eyes staring murderous daggers at Atorah.
"I will slowly let you go...do not attack T'uhtell." Rah told her. Atorah slowly nodded. Her face still covered, "on your honor you will not attack T'uhtell, say it Atorah."
"On my...honor..." Atorah sniffed, "I will not murder T'uhtell."
"Atorah." He warned.
"I will not attack, T'uhtell."
Slowly Rah loosened his powerful grip. Watching carefully between Atorah, Cuda and T'uhtell who was also being released. He found himself actually afraid that Atorah would lunge at T'uhtell again.
The female Yautja brushed herself off. Checking her jewelry to see if it had been ripped off in the attack. When all, but her bleeding forehead, seemed well, she straightened and balanced her suddenly cool gaze on Atorah.
"My father will be hearing about this."
"I do not care." Atorah responded coldly.
"You will."
Atorah threw up her head. Black hair flying behind her head, framing her shoulders and face. Cuda's eyes widened in actual fear. The burning look in her eyes both frightened and aroused him at the same time. Rah was no different, seeing a good fight between females made the most primal of his urges shoot through the roof. He'd never seen Atorah this way.
"You need your sire to fight for you, like a coward."
T'uhtell laughed, "you really do not know who I am? What you have done? My father is the head of the council. The oldest Elder with the most kills in this tribe. His word carries more weight than the lives of millions of Yautja." T'uhtell flicked back her hair with a rueful smirk, "if I asked for him to make you walk through the streets naked, with a sign that said, half breed, he would make you do it. If I asked for him to exile you, he'd do it."
"That's enough." Rah growled.
"And don't think I don't know about you too, outsider!" T'uhtell pointed at Rah accusingly. "You may look like one of us, but you are not of our tribe!"
Atorah straightened with wide eyes, her mouth wide in shock.
"What?"
You should stay away from that jehdin. Atorah remembered the words of her uncle Tu'puk.
Rah looked murderous in that moment. But T'uhtell sneered at Rah with intense hate in return at her murderous look.
"That's right. I know who you are. How did it feel to see your father come here? Not even acknowledge your existence? Only for your brother to try to take the half breed away? Hish scum."
Atorah spun around to look at Rah. He was practically steaming. He didn't look anything like Maut, but the accusation hung in the air,
Rah's brother was Maut.
Atorah looked back at Cuda, who looked completely lost and apologetic. He was not surprised, he knew.
"Rah..." Atorah turned back to him. He was gone, the leaves rustling behind his retreating form.
"And you, half breed." T'uhtell continued her verbal abuse.
"You attacked me first. That means I have claim to finish this in the trials. We will battle. I will not hesitate to kill you tomorrow. You may as well prepare your burial arrangements now. Great Sirrah deserved much better for a daughter anyway."
As much as Atorah wanted to rip T'uhtell's mandibles off her face, she was exhausted and too shocked at the news to move. Rah was a Hish? The brother of Maut! Her skin crawled involuntarily at the thought of Maut. Rah was nothing like him.
Cuda stood in front of Atorah, T'uhtell had left.
"Atorah."
"You knew."
"Atorah."
"You knew."
"It does not matter if I knew. It was secret."
"His brother attacked me. Tried to take me away and I was to believe it was all circumstance?"
"Don't be silly. Rah had nothing to do with it."
She believed him.
"T'uhtell..."
"Cannot best you." Cuda interrupted her gently. "T'uhtell would be a horrible mate."
"I never said that I was doing any of this with the intention to be your mate." Atorah rolled her eyes. Cuda chuffed at her, his mandibles pulling in tightly,
"If you were to succeed you would in fact be an eligible mating partner."
"Then I will be sure to lose." Atorah said dryly. This time Cuda rolled his eyes and chuffed in annoyance,
"Why then, did you get so offended when T'uhtell accused you of being infertile? Especially when it concerned me? Why does the sight of her and I together enrage you? I saw the look in your eyes when I grabbed her instead of you. You did not seem eager to lose anything at all, while I was all over you..."
Atorah's cheeks reddened,
"Haven't I been through enough tonight!?" She shouted at him. "I am going home!"
"Is it Rah?"
The last thing she wanted to talk about was Rah,
"Are you infatuated with Rah too?"
"This is not important right now."
"Well it is to me." Cuda retorted heatedly.
"Is this why you two seem to hate each other right now? Over me?" Atorah asked incredulously.
"That is not what I asked, nor is our brotherhood of any importance right now."
Atorah scoffed, "well, it is to me!" She mocked Cuda.
Cuda became silent instantly. His stance defensive. Atorah shuffled her feet awkwardly, crossing her arms,
"Can we just go home?" She pleaded softly. Cuda huffed,
"This conversation is not over."
Atorah glared at him.
"Let me walk you home. I will be silent." Cuda offered with a smirk. Atorah rolled her eyes and chuckled. Her mood somewhat uplifted despite the horrible end to the party.
"Okay. Complete silence." She smiled.