Rah and Atorah arrived at the training facility about an hour before any of the trials would get started.
Upon arriving they were registered and their names entered into the randomized drawings for sparring.
With time to spare, the two aimlessly walked through the facility until they reached the open air sparring floor. Many other Yautja were busying themselves here. Some going through their weapons, Others buying food or accessories for their armor from vendors and merchants who stuffed themselves off to the walls of the facility so that they wouldn't be in the way of Yautja walking by.
"Atorah! Is that you? I haven't seen you in so long!"
Atorah immediately grew a smile and jogged over to the merchant beckoning her. Jari'Ra, covered in more gold and silver than she could see lifted his tusks in joy to see the half breed.
"What pleasure it brings me to see you here." Jari'Ra reaches out to shake her shoulder gently.
"And to you." Atorah said, bowing her head slightly to her elder. "What are selling here?"
"You know I was never one for the kv'var (Hunt), I did not ever complete a chiva. Seeing you here fills my heart with much pride." Jari'Ra reaches into a pouch on his hip, "I have been saving this for you. It comes from your sire's home planet, Earth. Oomans call it a, bracelet."
Jari'Ra reaches out to take Atorah's hand in his larger paws and slipped a beaded, gold silver bracelet on her wrist.
"It is beautiful." Atorah marveled at the jewelry.
"Local natives gave it to me as a gift. I thought of you the moment I saw it."
Atorah thumped her fist against her chest, Jari'Ra returned the gesture, but chuckled in surprise when the half breed lunged forward to pull the merchant Yautja into a hug.
"Now," Jari'Ra pulled away, ignoring some of the disapproving grumbles from older Yautja, "go get ready before they begin without you. I will be watching."
Atorah smiled softly and nodded her goodbyes.
Now, to find Rah. Atorah realized that she had left him behind when she jogged off. Finding an almost completely black Yautja in a sea of mottled greens, orange and brown Yautja warriors wasn't easy.
Thankfully, she noticed him nearly backed into a corner by a vibrant Female Yautja, covered in mottled oranges and tan colors. As she approached the two the female spoke,
"Do you not remember me Rah?" The tan and orange skinned Yautja inquired gently, "I understand if you don't. It was quite dark at the festival last night..." the female lowered her voice in a seductive and playful tone, "and you could only see my back as we N'ritja'de (danced)."
Rah reeled back, completely flustered, his cheeks growing dark and a warning growl filling his throat. He finally noticed Atorah coming near. He looked between Atorah and the female in embarrassment, "I...I...c'jit...Cetanu's h'chak..." (shit, Cetanu's mercy) he began to stammer. Atorah, softly chuckled and raised her hand to her face to hide her amusement, trying, and failing, to hide her laughter.
The orange skinned female laughed heartedly, mandibles clicking against each other as she clutched her tensed up stomach in a fit of loud laughter.
"I did not mean to embarrass you!"
"I know who you are." Rah barked quickly and squared his shoulders back, trying to shake off his previously flustered attitude. The female looked behind her shoulder to see Atorah giggling,
"You!" She said excitedly, "you're the daughter of Sirrah!" The female Yautja whirled around and pointed at Atorah.
Atorah cringed. Prepared to hear the worst. Instead, the female reached out, grabbing Atorah's shoulder and shaking hard.
"It is such an honor to meet the daughter of such an accomplished warrior!" She said excitedly. Tusks clicking madly as she smiled. The female threw her fist onto her own chest and thumped it twice, "my name is, Vin'tuk'ti. My sire is Vin'dah the elder and my mother is Tuk'dah."
Atorah has heard of the legendary hunts of Vin'dah and the accomplished pup bearing of Tuk'dah. Who has birthed the most pups of any female Yautja in Atorah's tribe.
"I look forward to watching you spar. I hope I do not have to fight you, I want to be friends." Atorah smiled.
"It's nice to meet you Vin'Tuk'Ti." Atorah balled her fist and thumped her chest in a friendly gesture. With that, Vin'Tuk'Ti practically skipped off, armor clinking behind her as she went off to find her seat. Atorah looked back at Rah, who was staring at Vin'Tuk'Ti as she left.
"What an odd female." Rah huffed in annoyance.
"So that's who you were N'ritja'da (dancing) with at the Youngblood festival." Atorah mumbles, but Rah heard the comment anyway.
"You saw that?" Rah asked, tusks clucking together. A hiss of surprise and shame in his voice.
"I do not blame you. She's beautiful."
Rah growled in annoyance, "Not interested."
"I never said you were." Atorah slyly smirked. Rah's eyes thinned into slits.
A deep bellowing horn broke into the air as the first round of trials were set to begin.
Atorah watched battle after battle. Yautja mercilessly fighting to claim their right to a Chiva. But as her eyes scanned the crowds of Yautja spectating, she noticed that Cuda was no where to be seen. Neither had his name, nor Rah's and hers yet been called.
Atorah's mind drifted to last nights wild events. The very thought of Cuda made her cheeks burn.
Suddenly Cuda grabbed her up into his arms. Atorah yelped at first, but stifled her panic when she felt coarse finger pads gently caress her back. Cuda's glowing eyes were pleading and unsure. His mandibles opened slightly as he leaned down to push his crown against her forehead. The tips of his tusks, lovingly grazed her cheeks as the hand caressing her back went up to caress the back of her neck. Cuda's dreads fell around them like a curtain, the clinking noises ignored as Atorah took in a shuddering breath.
"Atorah, are you alright?"
"Hmm?" Atorah shook out of her memory. Rah was giving her a concerned look. Atorah blushed,
"I'll be right back," without giving Rah any hint to where she was going, she slipped into the crowd of Yautja and retreated inside of the training facility.
Atorah marched towards a small fountain and splashed her burning face with water. Her hands gripped the metal fountain to steady herself as she felt her legs wobble with weakness and unease.
"There you are."
Atorah spun around, body tensed, prepared for a fight until she realized the new voice belonged to Cuda. Her breath caught in her throat as Cuda quickly walked up to her in a new set of armor. She was quickly reminded of how tall he was compared to her. But his entire body roared power as he approached.
"You're late." Atorah blurted out. Cheeks burning as he stood before her. Cuda's face was hidden under his mask but somehow she could tell that he was smiling at her.
"I have good reason to be late this time."
Atorah gave him a skeptical look. Cuda could see that something was bothering her. Cuda let out a rumbling purr, he stepped closer and rested his large hands on Atorah's shoulders,
"I am late because I saw T'uhtell and her sire demanding your name be called with hers."
"She is relentless!" Atorah hissed in irritation.
"It does not matter. You're the better fighter."
"You've never seen me fight." Atorah rolled her eyes.
"I do not need to see you fight to know who the better female is."
Atorah couldn't find words in that moment.
"There's no need to apologize." Atorah cut him off. But Cuda growled,
"H'ko, there is. It was a lie. All of it." Cuda quickly spoke out. "I would be a fool to make you believe that you mean nothing to me. And I am no fool." He said lowly.
"What is on your mind Atorah?" Cuda purred, trying to ease her nerves with a low rumble in his chest.
"Last night...did you mean what you said?"
Cuda seemed taken aback, he was clicking under his mask. His large hands gently massaged her shoulders as he looked down at her, "We were drinking a lot of alcohol, so if you don't remember..."
"H'ko, I remember. I meant all of it. We must talk about it more after you win your fight."
"You're being awfully supportive." Atorah crosses her arms, "what are you up to?"
"For once. Nothing."
"Atorah!"
Cuda hesitantly pulled away from Atorah as Rah hurriedly approached the two. He looked between them, giving Cuda a distrusting look, before turning to Atorah.
"Vin'Tuk'Ti is about to spar."
"Then we must go watch!" Atorah said excitedly, she grabbed Cuda's arm, "come watch with us!"
Cuda hesitated, but followed them back to the outdoor sparring arena.
If there was one way to describe Vin'Tuk'Ti's fighting style, it was, fast and brutal. She had just bloodied the face of one female and quickly demanded to fight another female. The crowd of Yautja roared in support as Vin'Tuk'Ti put her opponent in a headlock and forced the female to submit.
"Who can best Vin'Tuk'Ti!? No one!" The female Yautja roared.
Atorah cheered with the crowd until she noticed Rah, just staring. The look on his face that of bewilderment and wonder. Atorah smirked, surprised that she didn't feel any jealousy. But she knew,
Rah had instantly fallen in love with Vin'Tuk'Ti.
I'm sorry if this chapter feels a bit slow. I know exactly how I want this story to play out, so slow parts are inevitable. Next chapter, Rah, Cuda and Atorah will fight.
Who will go to their Chiva?
Please leave a comment and make sure you star the chapter! Thank y'all so much for loving my story! I'm hoping to start a new Yautja/human story soon!