"4 of you have been pre-selected as a team to go on your Chiva. You will eat, sleep and train on the ship that will transport you to the game planet that your Chiva will be on. You have been chosen by a group of elders who believe your teamwork will benefit not only yourselves, but your people. Death, is better than defeat. And you will not return home until you die, or complete the hunt. Please approach the elders when your name is called to receive your markings and prepare to depart to your Chiva."
Atorah tested her hand. Opening and closing it carefully. She felt a sharp pain in her shoulder but nothing painful enough to stop her from the Chiva.
There was no time to see her mother. As much as it pained her to know that in moments she'd be thousand of light years away from the only Yautja that has ever stood by her.
"Is it hurting?" Rah's voice made Atorah suddenly turn around.
"N-no...what made you think that?" She pouted. Rah chuckled, deep trills flowing out of his mouth as his bright eyes looked her over.
"Merely you testing out your hand and staring at it as if it will fall off any second." He teased, "do you need more salve?"
"No. The medic closed the wound. All that's left is a scar and healing in the inside." Atorah sighed. "There is no time for me to rest."
"Correct. But between you and me, I am more concerned about if you are alright."
Atorah blushed. Rah's mandibles clicked as he looked at her softly.
"I...was told by Cuda that you have approved his courting." Rah spoke quietly.
"Pffft! Of course he couldn't wait to tell you that!"
"Yes he was very obnoxious when he told me." Rah said flatly. "Nonetheless...to be blunt...I wish for the same opportunity."
Atorah's eyes widened at Rah's confession. It wasnt uncommon for multiple males to "compete" for the attentions of a female. Atorah simply didn't expect for that female to be her.
"Rah...you and Vin'Tuk'Ti seem to be getting along great." Atorah said to him.
"I have known you and liked you for far longer. If I do not try, then I would not know if I made the right choice. Besides, it's not at all uncommon for more than one male to compete for a females attention." Rah shrugged.
Atorah sighed, she had wanted the attentions of Rah in this way for years. Like an adolescent female infatuated with a patrolling overseer, one could only dream of this. But Atorah still felt some apprehension. Vin'Tuk'Ti only just met them, but she could see in her eyes that she was interested in Rah.
"Are...are you doing this to avoid Vin'Tuk'Ti?" She asked softly. Rah's sunken glowing eyes widened, his tusks clicked and he sputtered,
"Of course not! My feelings are genuine!" He defended. "I am attracted to you. I do like you. You were here first, I have loved you first. I always will even if we are not mates. Merely, if Cuda falls through and proves to be unsuitable, I will be here."
Atorah softly smiled, she reached up to lay a warm hand on his cheek, smooth and black, covered in tiny whiskers,
"Thank you, Rah..."
"Rah, Atorah, Vin'Tuk'Ti and Cuda. Approach the elders!"
"We can discuss this later." Rah clicked his mandibles with a smile as he grabbed her arm to pull her along.
"Slow down Rah! You must be excited to leave!"
"Excited to prove my honor." He chuffed.
Cuda's eyes heatedly watched the two approach and Vin'Tuk'Ti smiled widely. An overseer approached the four Youngblood's and pointed towards a dirt path,
"Follow the path. At the end of it is a hut, enter it, you will be taken care of there."
It felt like hours of walking down the dirt path,
"Are you nervous?" Vin'Tuk'Ti suddenly asked Atorah,
"Me? Ah...maybe a little bit. Are you?" Atorah asked softly.
"Very." Vin'Tuk'Ti responded, "but don't worry. Whatever happens, it happens with honor."
Once the four reached the hut an Elder female Yautja adorned in red jewelry and a shawl made of a large furry animal, its skull glaring at the group from her shoulder.
"Females." Atorah and Vin'Tuk'Ti straightened, "enter first, say nothing, do nothing." The elder chuffed, sunken red eyes going over the group with harsh judgement.
Atorah and Vin'Tuk'Ti entered the dark hut. Both could not see, but they heed the words of the elder and stayed quiet.
Suddenly, hands grabbed them, Atorah clenched her jaw to stop herself from screaming. Her clothes were taken and she could hear Vin'Tuk'Ti being treated the same way. Atorah's wounded shoulder started to burn and she realized that someone had just slapped her on her wound. Whether by accident or not, Atorah quickly realized this was a dressing ceremony. She was being fitted into her inner armor, fishnets, wrist and leg guards.
A dim light slowly flickered on. Around her and Vin'Tuk'Ti were elder females, very old with white locs and pale skin, circling them with bowls of red and black powder and liquid. They painted symbols onto their skin, slapped dyed powders on their backs and spoke words of blessing and power before the elders Atorah's hair was pulled back into a long braid.
The elders spoke amongst themselves as they looked over the two. Vin'Tuk'Ti looked absolutely amazing, even under the dim light. Her face was adorned in paint, her shoulders slapped with red and blue handprints. Atorah quietly wondered if she looked even remotely as good.
"Continue down the path." An elder spoke, pulling Atorah out of her thoughts, "your ship will be waiting there. Wait for the males and the ship will depart."
The two young bloods both quietly bowed, keeping their eyes down out of respect. Silently they left the small tent and walked towards the ship further down the path.
"You look amazing." Atorah gaped as the sun shown down on Vin'Tuk'Ti's vibrant and painted skin.
"You should see yourself when we get to the ship. The beauty of Sirrah's offspring is unparalleled." Her newfound friend complimented her. Atorah blushed,
"I am different in beauty." She quietly said.
"Sure, beauty is not one way. It is unique. You are unique. But you are a beautiful Yautja." Vin'Tuk'Ti responded as she walked.
Atorah snapped her head to the female Yautja walking with her,
"What?" Vin'Tuk'Ti asked.
"You called me a Yautja."
"Yes?"
Atorah smiled,
"Thank you."
Not too long after arriving at the ship, Atorah spot two Yautja, covered from head to toe in paint. Rah and Cuda were in their fishnet under armor and gauntlets. They both were speaking to the other.
Correction,
They were bickering with each other,
"The Tale of Tun'Sun does not end that way you idiot." Cuda spat, thrusting one finger into his palm for emphasis. "No Yautja would dare tell the story that way."
"You're thick headed Cuda, Tun'Sun fought Cetanu and freed his mate from the underworld. That is the story." Rah responded matter of factly.
Atorah rolled her eyes.
Folklore.
They were arguing about folklore.
Cuda didn't even like studying the Yautja mythos in training. Atorah was sure he was arguing just to argue with his now rival.
"I cannot believe I have to do the Chiva with you," Cuda huffed.
"I am of the same thoughts Cuda." Rah rolled his eyes as they approached the two unimpressed females.
Rah's height truly seemed unparalleled as he stood in front of Vin'Tuk'Ti, whom was pretty tall herself. But Rah towered over her.
"Are you two finished bickering?" Vin'Tuk'Ti teased.
"That depends, is Rah..."
"I am more than happy to cease arguing. The Chiva is somewhat of a team effort." Rah cooly responded.
Cuda crossed his arms, muttering under his breath as he glared away from Rah and at the dark metal of the ship.
Vin'Tuk'Ti began pressing buttons into a panel at the ship door, with a hiss it slide open. Atorah gaped at its size.
She had never seen a scout ship on the inside. They were smaller than clan ships but they were still huge in size to accommodate even the bulkiest of warriors.
The walls of the ship an earthen brown and red. Every room had steel sliding doors. A small mist covered the hard floors, probably to keep Yautja skin somewhat moist in the dry conditions of space.
"This room is mine." Rah called out.
"I want this one!" Vin'Tuk'Ti clicked.
Cuda quickly followed, "mine!"
Atorah smirked, "well, I guess this one will be mine."
"Not bad for leftovers." Cuda whispered a teasing comment and flicked her ear with a mandible. He quickly backed away as Atorah spun around to him.
"Cuda..."
"Mei'hswei! Mei-jadhi! (Sister! Brothers!), come look!" Vin'Tuk'Ti called for them.
The 3 Youngblood's headed to the cockpit, Rah's eyes widened at the sight of buttons and pictures on the dash.
In the middle of the large cockpit room was a table, displaying a holographic pictures of a planet.
"This must be our game planet." Cuda said softly, clicking his mandibles in thought, "Ju'kar." He chuffed.
"The ship is in autopilot. This must be one of the newer scout ships." Rah said to Vin'Tuk'Ti.
"I found the count down, it leaves in 2 minutes!" She said back to him in excitement.
"You must have taken the navigation course." Rah's mandibles lifted into a smile at Vin'Tuk'Ti.
"I took Navigation and star guide courses." She told him proudly. Rah beamed,
"As did I."
"All ship occupants must take their seats. Liftoff in 1 minute." A robotic voice spoke in Yautja to them.
Atorah took her seat, buckling herself in. Vin'Tuk'Ti and Rah took seats closest to the panel and Cuda sat next to her.
"Are you ready?" Cuda asked as the thrusters on the ship began to roar below them. Atorah gave him a soft smile,
"More than ever."