Twenty-three

Ki'vei-ta clacked her tusks together impatiently as she took her seat at the head of the table in the council chambers. In the center of the hollow table, the holographic image of their spacial territory shone brightly, its width enough to stretch out and touch the edges of the table, expanding toward the ceiling above them. A few more Elders filed in, Sechinde among them. He greeted Ki'vei-ta with a nod and took his seat. Two more males and a single female seated themselves and awaited further instruction, watching the Matriarch seriously. Ki'vei-ta was easily the youngest member in the room by at least three centuries, but they all knew better than to assume weakness from her. Since inheriting the title of Matriarch from her bearer, outstripping all of her sisters in rank, intellect, prowess and strength, she'd proven herself to be a most impressive leader, following a few clumsy adjustment years, of course.

"Neh'r'ki, Sechinde," she began, addressing the two Elders who had requested the meeting, "I am becoming rather weary of discussing the Avian. I would prefer to hear of the status of the outbreak."

Sechinde nodded, his exceedingly long tendrils rustling softly against his back and neck, "Understood," he said, "We have news and propositions regarding both, if you would care to hear them."

Ki'vei-ta seemed less than thrilled, but she kept her mood in check, clicking her tusks a few times, "Proceed, Sechinde."

"Regarding the outbreak on N'-ithya, we have one new item of news, although the origin of the outbreak is still unclear."

"What is the news?"

"A warrior named H'rath'kal from the To're'ke journeyed there several rotations ago. He has since been bested by his prey. However, the images his mask recorded were of great interest to us. It seems that prior to his death, he stumbled across a nest."

"Play the recording." Ki'vei-ta ordered. Sechinde took up his gauntlet, removed from his wrist and set on the table beside him. He pulled it closer and input a series of commands, looking up toward the hologram in the center of the room. The sphere shifted and warped, the neon orange light twisting into the shape of a spacious room. From the eyes of the deceased Hunter, they saw what he saw; dozens of unhatched Hard Meat eggs littered about the floor of what appeared to be a wide cavern. The Hunter was moving slowly, eyes scanning cautiously about him in case one of the eggs should open. His viewpoint moved around in slow, erratic circles and through the audio, they heard his cautious clicking. The cavern extended deeper, ending in a dark chasm that stretched down into the ground. The Hunter paused here and looked deep into the chasm, studying it carefully before turning around.

"Is there any indication of the location shown here?" Ki'vei-ta asked.

"Unfortunately, no. For reasons unknown to us, he did not begin recording his location until only a few moments before now." Sechinde replied, a dark, annoyed tone littered through his voice.

The audio picked up again and they heard the telltale squelching sound, which caused the Hunter to turn suddenly in the direction of the eggs. A sharp snarl was heard when one of the eggs was shown to be open, but empty upon closer inspection. The viewpoint shifted quickly as the Hunter searched for the escaped tou'amedha. A sharp shriek and the viewpoint crackled and fizzed out abruptly. The image was replaced with the layout of their spacial territory in its place. Ki'vei-ta sighed and sat back, "So then, that was that." she said, "And has the Hunter's body been recovered?"

"His body has not been retrieved," Neh'r'ki said, "And we have been as yet, unable to track his location. His ship was recalled to us, however he had moved quite a large distance away from it by the time we accessed the recordings."

Ki'vei-ta pulled up a map of estimated coordinates of where they believed the Hunter's body might be in relation to the location his deserted ship was called from. Her eyes narrowed, "This is quite a distance. Any further and he might very well have considered his ship derelict by that point. Do we know what he was doing, Hunting so far from his claimed territory?"

Sechinde nodded, "Yes. He was tracking a number of congregating kainde amedha. It would seem that he had found the nest..." he trailed off. Ki'vei-ta eyed him thoughtfully, clicking her tusks together in contemplation. Sechinde was doing it again; he was withholding answers from her, opinions and suppositions he had regarding the case before them. Just because she knew why he was doing it didn't make her appreciate it any more than she felt she did. Ki'vei-ta turned her attention back to the image as the only answer that made sense wormed its way into her mind, "He was too far from it," she finished, "This distance is nearly equal that of twenty of N'-ithya's rotations, forty of our own. No Hunter of sound mind would bother traveling that far on foot. He would have shifted his position with the ship and continued from there."

"Something halted his ability to do so." Sechinde said.

The others in the room began a soft series of rumbles and clicks, beginning to see the one and only disturbing conclusion this train of thought could lead to. Neh'r'ki finally broke the contemplative silence, "He was forced away. He was driven to retreat, to reconsider his strategy. He was blocked from returning to his ship."

The thought sent a shudder of ominous anger through every member in the room. The idea of a Yautja fleeing from a threat was obscene. The Yautja ran from nothing. Backing off, strategic retreats, or slipping off to a distance; all strategies that served their purposes well and allowed them to continue to engage their prey for as long as they could track it. This Hunter had been forced into an extended retreat, struggling to gain some ground of advantage on his attackers. The data clearly showed that he'd been pursued until he entered the nest.

"There is no way to be certain whether he was sequestered within the nest or chose to wander deeper in on his own in hopes of finding another way out," Ki'vei-ta said as she activated the recording again of the nest, "Something kept him on the run, driving him toward the nest. Whatever it was was strong. Are there no recordings of what he encountered?"

Sechinde shook his head, "None. I find this fact alone suspicious enough as it is. I believe the recordings may have been tampered with."

"How is this possible?" Ki'vei-ta demanded as calmly as she could. There was no sense in losing her temper now.

"It was not until many rotations when H'rath'kal failed to report back to the To're'ke. He was a seasoned Hunter, successful in hundreds of Hunts and conquests. For such a proud Yautja to fail to report back within the specified time meant little else than that he had been taken by the Paya. This is when the order to summon the ship back was cast. Scouts from the Ki'vai have been sent out to investigate, but they have yet to return with new information."

"I see." Ki'vei-ta muttered, though she was clearly edgy about the subject. She leaned back in her chair with a barely audible sigh, "Well then, as I am sure you are all anxious to hear," she said with a light bite to her tone, "What of the news of the Avian?"

"We have been considering what to do with her when she matures." one of the others said, "For her to have lasted this long confounds me."

"So then tell me your thoughts, then." Ki'vei-ta said as patiently as she could. The new-spoken Elder sat up straighter, detecting her shift in mood. He knew he had little time with which to state his suggestion, "We are aware that the Avian is quite possibly the last one of her kind left in existence. We have considered accessing our databanks on various prey throughout the galaxy," he said, "If we were able to obtain samples of the Avian's genetic makeup, we assumed it might be possible to find genetic matches with which to pair her once she has reached maturity. If she succeeds in mating with such a match and produces offspring, this would be the first step toward bringing her kind back as the honorable prey they once were."

Ki'vei-ta eyed him sternly, "I am going to assume from your tone that you have already begun this process, regardless of my thoughts on the matter." she snapped, flaring her lower mandibles at him. He shrunk back and turned his head away in submission, averting his eyes. The gesture was enough to mollify Ki'vei-ta as she confirmed her suspicions, "Aside from untested, the idea is rather dishonorable. We selectively breed the kainde amedha, certainly. However, they are far from sentient as we are. They barely know us from any other creature in the galaxy. As long as it breathes, they do not care who or what they impregnate. The Avian has proven herself to be quite sentient, albeit lower in stature than ourselves. How do you justify using her this way?"

"Sechinde can confirm how important the Avian race once was to our people." the Elder said.

"True, he can. So tell me, how many matches have you found in your shadowy search?" she argued lightly.

"We...have found a total of six at the moment."

"Well, you have been busy." Ki'vei-ta hissed. The Elder, cowed under, backed down and looked away. Ki'vei-ta worked her mandibles feverishly for a moment before sighing heavily, "While it is an important matter to consider regarding bringing her species back, at the moment, it is not relevant. She has not even matured. There are more urgent matters to deal with and to be truthful, I am quite weary of hearing about the Avian. I want you to put aside your...projects. When the Avian has matured to a breeding age, we will discuss the matter then, and not before. If I hear that you have continued this venture without my permission, there will be dire consequences. Am I understood?"

The Elder rumbled something in reply, but it was enough. The message was loud and clear.

Ki'vei-ta called the meeting to an end, feeling her temper flaring as she did so. The others filed out, talking quietly as they did so. Sechinde lingered back, watching the Matriarch carefully. Most Yautja maintained a healthy level of wariness around the Matriarch, males especially. Female Yautja were renowned for their short tempers and impressive strength. Though it occasionally depended on the individual, on average, female Yautja were larger and stronger than their male counterparts. Ki'vei-ta was certainly taller than most of the males she dealt with, standing close to nine and a half feet high. But unlike many of her kindred sisters, she wasn't as well-built and appeared a bit more on the lean side. She was highly intimidating, but she made effective use of both her body and her intellect in order to force her foes into submission. And as a relatively new Matriarch, she was still learning the delicate balance of managing an entire Clan, as well as the balance of the Triad. This was why Sechinde held back. He held a healthy respect and admiration for her, showing undaunted support as her Clan member, Hunter, and even mate on occasion. He always tread carefully around her and she chose to interact with him outside of mating and talks with the Elders because of it.

She faced him, her tusks close to her mouth as she eyed him warily, "Am I losing my touch, Sechinde?"

"I would hardly think so." he said softly, "I do not imagine there is much in the way of precedence to rely on with a matter such as this."

"You Hunted the Avians. Tell me, were they truly as exhilarating prey as the records state? How reliable are they, do you believe?"

"I speak from my own experience." Sechinde replied, "And yes, it was a Hunt I shall never forget."

Ki'vei-ta sighed, looking away, "I am quite tired of this whole situation. Sometimes, I am tempted to have her brought to me so that I may end her myself."

Sechinde rumbled deeply, averting his head to the side, "If that is what you feel is best, Ki'vei-ta, I will see to it that no Yautja will stand in your way."

"Not even you?" Ki'vei-ta asked, leering questioningly at him. Sechinde was the Yautja that first proposed the Avian's protection. Perhaps out of misplaced sentiment toward a great Hunt or perhaps out of curiosity to the youngster's abilities; She didn't know and she didn't care to find out. His reasons were his own and she had no desire to pry any deeper than she already had access to.

"I would back down." he answered without hesitation.

Ki'vei-ta looked away, her long, jewel-strung tendrils swishing lightly behind her, "I will think upon the matter for a while," she said finally, "To act now is impulsive and rash, to say nothing of reckless. The Avian has proven some worth."

"You believe in her potential?"

"Like all Yautja, I have heard the legends of bygone times and prey that has since disappeared. I choose to stay silent on the matter for the time being. In the future, you shall have your answer, Sechinde. But only when I am sufficiently ready to give it."

Moving toward him, she paused briefly when she drew very close to him, a short, steady rumble echoing from deep within her chest as she bowed her head beside his. She moved again, away from him and toward the door. Sechinde waited for many minutes before daring to leave the room after her. For all the occasional moments when she appeared to show favor toward him, such as right then, he knew that the smallest slight could incite her to attack. Even something as walking too close to her back and blind spots. When he was positive it was safe to leave, he did so, stepping out into the corridor. The voices of many Yautja could be heard reverberating through the darkened passageways and he listened to the incoherent cacophony with mild disinterest. He felt even to this day that the previous Matriarch had made a wise decision in appointing her eldest daughter as her successor, foregoing the usual tests of mettle and skill that often followed the death of a leader. It was a highly uncommon move that was proving extremely effective. Though fresh, Ki'vei-ta was promising. In a few rotations' time, another delegation would be held between high ranking members of the Triad, in which he and Ki'vei-ta would again face the Elders with their news, decisions and strategies. Ki'vei-ta was right; at present, the Avian was the absolute least of their concerns. They had many other, far more important matters weighing on the horizon and it was likely that many changes loomed before them. Their entire society operated on traditions and customs dating as far back as their very origins, misty as they were. However, the wise Yautja knew that some things inevitably had to change in order to progress in any way. Fight to hang onto treasured customs, but work toward progress for the betterment of the Clan and the brethren. It was the secret to true success and the reason why the Yautja had survived.

This was how Sechinde chose to view the situation both involving the young Avian and the troubles with the Triad. He could only hope that one day, Ki'vei-ta herself would also realize this to its full effect.

/ooo/

The trip back to earth was looming before them. The pack had returned briefly to the Jag'dja'd atoll for supplies to last for the longer journey. Luar'ka had learned that after this trip with her pack, the Jag'dja'd atoll would leave its stationary orbit and begin trekking through space again toward known Hunting worlds. She was spending a couple of rotations back in the storeroom until it was time to leave. The storeroom of the healing ward was actually a lot larger than Luar'ka gave it credit for. She ducked down as Ikthya'de took a swipe at her head and zipped past him, scaling the wall and hanging barely out of his reach from the ceiling. He turned his head up to watch her, growling low in his chest as he braced for her next move. She scrambled nimbly across the domed ceiling of the storeroom, releasing her own set of clicking growls as her tail swished behind her. She released her grip and dropped down to the floor behind him, forcing him to turn quickly to keep his eye on her. But she was moving so quickly and using the natural thin mist in the room as a cover that he had to really focus to keep up with her erratic movements. A flurry of mist puffed up to his right and he whirled, tusks clacking furiously. The mist wasn't as thick in this room as it was in the main entryway, kept as such in order to regulate any foreign air that managed to slip in while on any Hunting world. But it was thick enough to cover her small body as she moved nearly entirely silently around him. He barely saw it coming when she rocketed out of the mist, leaping with surprising strength toward his face. His arm shot up to block her attack as she opened her mouth to bite his neck, latching onto his arm instead. He grunted when her sharp little teeth pierced his thick skin and this grunt turned into a sharp growl when her lower body undulated in midair to rake her vicious foot talons across his abdomen, opening thin, but deep little gashes in his hide. His other arm lashed around and, while carefully controlled to avoid seriously damaging her, pummeled her side to knock her off of him, sending her flying halfway across the room. She shrieked briefly and twisted in the air to land somewhat clumsily on her feet, her knees bending and her thighs straining from the impact. She snarled furiously and darted around him. Ikthya'de ducked forward and grabbed her shoulder as she sped past, pushing her all the way down to the floor and pinning her in place. This was a typical submission technique for sparring between Yautja, but with Luar'ka, he had to measure his force carefully. Her body was extremely delicate. Too much strength could easily shatter her. He moved his other hand around to grab her flailing tail and pin it and his hand against her writhing lower half to force her down against the floor. His left hand held onto her shoulder, pushing her face-down and shifting his hand to her neck to hold her there. In this position, she couldn't fight anymore and couldn't break his grip. It was short and quick, but this sparring session was over and Ikthya'de was the victor. Luar'ka turned her head away in submission and he released her, stepping back away from her as she struggled to her feet. She sighed, fluffing her feathers out, "I believe I see what I did wrong," she said, " I let you get too close to my back, is that right?"

Ikthya'de nodded, "Never show your back to an opponent," he instructed, "It gives the opportunity to turn your own attack into a weakness."

"So I see." she said, stretching her wings. She turned to face him, her eyes narrowed and her legs spread apart defensively, "One more round." she said, "I will get it right this time."

"That is enough for today, Gyun'r Mei'jadhi."

"Ikthya'de, I have seen you and the others sparring for much longer than that." she complained.

"We have also lived and fought for much longer than you, Luar'ka. We have many, many seasons to your lone one. Even the most unintelligent Yautja knows not to over-exert himself. He will only end up injured, or worse."

Luar'ka sat down in disappointment, "But Cetanu is not to be feared. And experience must come at all costs to survive," she argued lightly, "I will never grow stronger if I do not push myself."

"R'zha has taught you well," Ikthya'de remarked, pulling some dried fruit from the satchel attached to the belt about his waist, "However, you seem to have missed the point of one his lessons."

"What is that?" she asked, watching as he sat down and divided the fruit between them. He handed her the larger half and watched as she nibbled on it. His mandibles clicked together in regard to her as he thought of a way to continue, "He has instructed you in the ways of the Paya, correct?"

"He has. Great warriors of the past have been called by the goddesses to look down on us, guide us, and one day call us to join them. They are pleased by great achievements in the Hunt, by the most honorable Yautja who keep close their teachings and wisdom."

Ikthya'de nodded, "This is true. And he spoke of Cetanu, correct?"

"...He did. 'The Black One'. The one who eventually wins all fights. The goddess of eternal sleep. Death."

"Do you know that an incarnation of Cetanu is kept aboard this very ship?" he asked knowingly.

"What?"

Ikthya'de fixed her with a knowing look, "A black queen. The bearer of the kainde amedha. A creature possessing of such beauty and raw power that she is revered as Cetanu herself. Her favored form is the shape of the kainde amedha queen. No Yautja can resist her forever. One day she will take him and he will embrace that day when it comes. The will of the Paya is absolute. One can resist it for a time, but never escape it. Do you understand?"

Luar'ka looked away, trying to wrap her mind around the concept. She ground her teeth together, "Cetanu comes for all, is not to be feared...but must never be surrendered to." she said softly, "Fight her...for as long as you can. Until you can fight no longer. Then, when you know your time has come, go with her willingly...to greet the Paya in honor."

Ikthya'de's upper tusks flared apart in a wide grin at her. His chest swelled with pride at how truly intelligent she was proving to be. He nodded once, reaching out to place his hand on her shoulder, "You have come a long way," he said softly, " And you will continue to grow. Remember what I taught you and never allow your fear to sway you."

"I am Avian in body," she confirmed with a small smile, "But I am Yautja in spirit."

"Correct."

"I have a question, Ikthya'de." she said.

"What is it?"

"You mentioned there is a kainde amedha queen kept on board the ship. This is not the first time I have heard of her presence here. Is it true she is here?" Luar'ka asked, combing through the feathers of her tail.

Ikthya'de stared at her a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought. He rumbled low, his tusks clicking slowly as he finally growled out his answer, "Would you care to see her?"

/ooo/

The main congregational segments of the ship were sequestered in the upper and middle decks, reachable by means of either steps or lifts. These were the floors where the Yautja attended their daily lives. Each varying class of Yautja kept its own space within the enormous ship, only mingling when the need called for it. Within the middle deck, stretching the entire three-quarter length of the ship, the warriors and Hunters kept their chambers, limited to their sparse belongings and somewhat less-sparse collections. That was one thing Luar'ka had noticed about the Yautja in her time with them; whether it be trophies, weapons, or random trinkets, the Yautja in general had a tendency to hoard some of the most erratic collections she'd ever seen in her life.

The main gathering hall was located directly in the heart of the massive ship and Yautja gathered there daily either to replenish energy, morale, or to meet up with brothers and comrades. Or, if they were brave enough to risk severe punishment, they could also hold rivalry battles there if the arguments couldn't wait to be taken to the kehrite. Luar'ka understood there were six such rooms aboard the ship, each one larger than the last. The final kehrite was meant almost as a public spectacle chamber meant to observe mass Clan competitions. Ikthya'de explained that such competitions and spars were held before Clan Hunts and chivas as a means of boosting excitement, morale, and the spirit of the Hunt. It was also how members of the Clan were chosen for Clan Hunts, as the strongest warriors would be needed to bring down the largest prey with which to feed the Clan. Usually, the eldest and strongest males took the victory and led the attacks. It didn't happen often, but when a younger male successfully uprooted the claimed title from an Elder as Hunt Leader, it was often a cause of intense uproar and commotion as the young male's honor and rank practically spiked from such an achievement.

This was about all Luar'ka knew about the Jag'dja'd atoll. She knew that the small handful of leading females lived on the upper decks, for the most part sequestered entirely from the males. The Matriarch was there as well and kept quarters with her chosen female guards and counselors. This was a vital arrangement, as the general management and overall leadership of the Clan was left under the care of the Matriarch, Ki'vei-ta. Luar'ka had only ever seen her the one time in the kehrite. While she kept a close eye indeed on the goings on in the Clan, she apparently rarely came down. Luar'ka was also aware of the servant class of Yautja living in the lower decks of the ship, weaker Yautja who survived chiva, but were physically incapable of climbing any higher in rank. She didn't know where they lived, exactly, but she was instinctively wary of them whenever she came across them. Her few experiences with the eta had not been friendly ones and she got the distinct feeling that they disliked her greatly, perhaps even more than the higher class Hunters and warriors.

As Ikthya'de led her down through the back corridors of the belly of the ship, down hallways so dark she could barely see where she was going, she realized she had no idea where they were anymore. This was further into the belly of the ship than she'd ever been before. There weren't even any portals down here to see out into the darkness of space. They were also heading further back, away from the congregation and toward the tail of the ship. The steps they were descending on suddenly ended and Luar'ka placed her feet on solid pathway, only for her legs to buckle beneath her, sending her tumbling forward. Ikthya'de turned and glanced at her as she disentangled her talons from the grated floor, which turned out to be a narrow pathway hanging over a deep, hollow open space of the ship. Below, she could hear the voices of other Yautja and she saw a soft, bluish glow emanating from below.

"How...?" she muttered.

"We have taken a different way down from normal," Ikthya'de explained, "This is the route the eta traverse in order to perform maintenance. We will receive fewer challenges this way."

"Are you even allowed to bring me down here?" she whispered.

"Unlikely." he answered jovially.

It was weird how breezily he treated breaking what appeared to be a rather serious rule.

Luar'ka moved carefully, trying to keep her talons raised as much as possible while she walked so she didn't snag them again in the holes in the floor of the pathway. She followed her Yautjan brother carefully, keeping a close eye out for any sign of trouble. She still heard other voices nearby and knew there were Yautja in the vicinity, perhaps working on whatever machinery lay below. The dark hours were in effect and many of the weak lights were shut off to allow the Yautja to regulate their sleep in accordance with the rotation of the homeworld. However, there were still a few up and working or making their rounds.

They reached a division in the pathway. The right path led off into the gloom, disappearing quickly from sight. The left one veered toward a main wall separating this room from another. The door beckoned silently, almost like a gate into the deepest abyss imaginable. Ikthya'de opened it and waited a few seconds before proceeding forward with his wary charge in tow. On the other side, Luar'ka was amazed to see that an enormous, curved circular sheet of transparent material made up a gigantic viewing portal spanning the entire length and width of the room. Wide metal pathways wound around all sides of the portal. Not far from them, Luar'ka thought she could see steps leading down into the space. The room was surprisingly cold, much colder than the rest of the ship and as she stepped inside, she felt the rush of air from the door closing and then heard a sharp sucking sound as if it were being sealed shut behind her. She realized it was an atmospheric door, meant to separate the air from this room and keep it from mixing with the air from the rest of the ship. The mist wasn't as heavy here because of the chill and she heard Ikthya'de grumble irritably beside her as a sharp shudder ran through his body at the steep shift in climate. Without the netting, which aside from serving as the base for the cloak, as well as served to regulate the Yautjas' body temperatures in abnormal climates, Ikthya'de felt every bit of the icy chill in this room, his hot breath puffing out in ghostly trails of steam in the air. He tossed his head and motioned her toward the portal, clicking his tusks a few times. Luar'ka eyed him warily. That old familiar tingling was back as her feathers raised from her head and neck in apprehension. She didn't like this place. There was something wrong about this room. She stepped forward, already knowing more or less what to expect as she approached the panel and looked down. It took her eyes a moment to focus in the deep, dark depression in the floor.

Nothing she'd encountered before could have prepared her for what she saw at the base of the pit.

"...hghh..." she gagged in alarm.

She was there, swathed so perfectly in thick shadows that it was hard to tell where she ended and the shadows began. Her entire body took up half of the depression in the hull below them. Barely moving, Luar'ka was able to pick out the Hard Meat Matriarch's enormous head and elegant crown extending down over her back, bowed forward. As her eyes adjusted more to the gloom, she saw the Matriarch's gigantic body, strapped across the abdomen, torso, legs, tail, and arms to thick, spiked chains attached—no, fused—to the walls of her enclosure. Her movements were extremely light, her head swiveling painfully slowly. Running through the inside of her mouth was some kind of gag or harness connected to the same restraints holding her arms aloft and frozen in place. Her breath came out in short, hissing huffs, appearing as dense fogs of steam that dissipated slowly in the cold air. Luar'ka's eyes moved carefully along every inch of the massive creature until she saw that the queen was attached to her enormous egg tube, connected by extensions and chains suspending it in place behind her. However, Luar'ka could see nothing below it that looked like an egg. The floor was empty.

"There are no eggs," she whispered, turning as Ikthya'de came up behind her to look through the panel. He nodded, "Yes, you are correct. It is too dangerous to allow her to be awake and laying constantly like she would do under normal circumstances. What mistakes were made in the distant past, we have learned from and been bettered by," He said cryptically, allowing the implication of this ominous statement to weigh heavily on her a moment before continuing, "This room is cold, uncomfortably so. We keep it this way."

"Why?"

"Normally, this room is kept at freezing temperatures. Only certain Yautja are allowed down here. 'Cetanu' is normally kept in a cryogenic sleep to preserve her. As you can see, she is in a half-wakened state. Soon, she will awaken fully and begin laying again. This is when the eta who are down here will face a great challenge and a chance to prove their honor."

Luar'ka frowned, "What do you mean?"

"The eta working in here are specially trained. Even they have a caste system and their strongest sect performs this duty. When Cetanu awakens, they will have the task of retrieving some of the eggs she lays and freezing them for transport."

"But how?" Luar'ka asked, "She will guard them."

Ikthya'de's eyes narrowed, "I have said the strongest of the eta handle this task. Normally, these lower chambers are guarded well by the eta. I have brought you down here now because of the shift in habit. As we speak, they are fighting for control of the most important duty in the entire process. Winner takes all." he said quietly. Luar'ka was silent a moment, looking out toward the queen and grinding her teeth. She sighed, squaring her shoulders as she understood the only meaning Ikthya'de could be referring to and wishing for her to decipher on her own, "The strongest will have the task of distracting her, of fighting her while the others retrieve the eggs. With no grown offspring, she will be fighting alone. And he will be forbidden from killing her." Luar'ka whispered.

"And thus, he will meet the Paya," Ikthya'de continued solemnly, "He will be granted the utmost honor by dying at the jaws of Cetanu herself. She will personally escort him to the pantheon."

Now she understood. The eta had very little honor. Looking after the kainde amedha queen was one of their many assignments. However, the task of retrieving the eggs was crucial toward chiva for youngsters, as the eggs needed to be gathered and then placed at the trial sites in order to create the challenge of the kainde amedha, the ultimate prey. The eta would fight to claim the honor of facing Cetanu head on, a privilege very few Blooded males ever attained.

This truly was a big event.

She jumped at the sound of roars further off in the distance. Ikthya'de glanced in that direction, humming in the back of his throat, "It would seem we have a victor." he said quietly, "We had best leave now, Luar'ka. She will soon awaken, anyhow."

Luar'ka cast one final look at the queen as her head slowly swiveled back and forth, her body awakening sluggishly and rigidly. Soon, she would be at full strength and it would be dangerous to be in the vicinity. Luar'ka left the panel, following her brother back out through the maze of corridors up to the relative safety of the upper floors. She didn't relax until they made it back to the main interior of the ship when her presence wouldn't be questioned as much. Even so, Ikthya'de did his best to avoid crowds of other Yautja since Luar'ka was still quite small. Standing at just over five feet, she was fast, but not experienced enough yet to handle the full-on challenges she was sure to receive before too long.

Back aboard the shuttle, awaiting further instruction, Luar'ka practiced her language studies with Ikthya'de, finding it difficult to concentrate. Kar'kha and Than'ja were busy handling the supplies they'd need for the expedition to earth and Thwei'ja was nowhere to be seen. By this point in time, Luar'ka was used to him disappearing. She couldn't get her mind off of what she'd seen in the bowels of the ship, of the mother of the kainde amedha, restrained and sedated, held captive by the Yautja.

"Ikthya'de," she said, pausing as she scrolled through the texts, "You called her Cetanu. Why? Is she really Cetanu?" she said in reference to the queen. Ikthya'de clicked his tusks in regard to her, chittering softly, "She is not, no. Not in the physical sense. However, it is what she represents that is important. When Cetanu comes to claim a warrior, she takes the form of the kainde amedha bearer. Their Matriarch. And she cannot be defeated. This is what I spoke of to you, earlier."

Luar'ka felt like she understood, and having fought the kainde amedha firsthand and survived, she thought she'd seen them in their entirety. She'd never imagined something like their Matriarch could exist. But when she stopped to think about it, this summed up her entire life prior to a year ago. Before, she'd never have imagined the Yautja existing. Now, she couldn't picture a life without them. She knew that her life of relative seclusion in their society could only last so long. Soon, she'd be exposed to the true nature of their existence. And with the knowledge of what they carried on board the ship, her respect for them only deepened. Her feathers flared and she sighed restlessly. She raised her eyes to him and he cocked his head curiously.

"Enough studying," she said, "I wish to spar."

He considered her carefully, his tusks clacking in thought. He nodded once, getting to his feet and backing up a short ways, "As you wish."

/ooo/

"I do not see how this concerns me."

Thwei'ja wasn't too thrilled about being summoned to Sechinde's quarters before he was due to leave for N'-ithya with the others. Three other packs were being sent there as well. He was supposed to coordinate their predetermined locations with them so that their terrains wouldn't overlap during the mission. This impromptu meeting was taking up valuable time. He watched his sire as he moved about his chambers, preparing his own gear for a separate Hunting trip. The time for chiva drew near and the chosen Unbloods were preparing themselves. Sechinde was to oversee their tests.

"It concerns you highly," he answered without looking at him, "You lead that pack. The Avian is a member of that pack. Therefore, she is your underling."

"I care nothing for her status."

"No one has ordered you to. However, she is the responsibility of your pack. I fail to see why you did not end her life once she had discovered our presence."

There was nothing Thwei'ja could argue with the counter that. He honestly should have killed the Avian long before now, but he hadn't. He remained silent, eyes glued to the floor. Sechinde continued, "Ki'vei-ta is of the mind to consider killing her herself." he said, "If she orders such an edict, there will be nothing your pack will be able to do. Do you believe she is worth killing?"

Thwei'ja's eyes narrowed, his mandibles working feverishly a moment. He sighed, the sound rattling from deep within his throat, "She is not worth the effort to kill. She is still too young to pose a threat and her skills do not qualify her as an honorable trophy."

"I seem to recall you speaking in her defense during the last meeting you attended with the Matriarch."

"She has since earned a lowly place in the pack." Thwei'ja admitted, albeit grudgingly, "She can now be challenged, if a Hunter sees fit to do so."

Sechinde rumbled deeply in thought, straightening up and fastening his mask to his face. It was a sharp-edged mask, tipped with razor-edged points reaching back beneath his eye slits. He strode past Thwei'ja, "The choice remains to be yours,"

He departed and Thwei'ja left soon after, feeling unpleasantly angry. He made his way back to his ship, his thoughts muddled. While it was indeed true that she rarely caused him trouble anymore, he was still annoyed for the fact that she was in his general vicinity.

He arrived back at his ship in the docking bay. His pack was just finishing up preparations. He could see the Avian scuttling about around the ship, checking for breaches of any kind. Ikthya'de followed her progress and instructed her on what to look for.

They glanced up at his approach and he growled deep in his chest as he moved past them. He noticed that the Avian kept her head down as he passed her. It seemed she learned from previous times. He stared hard at her for a moment, his lower mandibles slightly slack in a mild show of aggression. It was an unconscious movement, an action he did naturally toward whatever it was that bothered him. He caught this reflex and ceased it, now just glaring at her. She kept her head down, but her feathers began to raise slowly in agitation. He was surprised to see that as they rose, they began to glow bright hues of colors as she apparently flushed blood through them. He turned away then, moving inside the ship to prepare for launch.

He had no choice in the matter as to whether or not the Avian was placed in his pack. She was relegated to the same status as eta in his eyes, but she didn't seem bothered by it. He'd been surprised when he'd learned that she seemed to be thriving under daily training in the kehrite, not to mention the fact that Me'vi-te hadn't been entirely nonplussed about the fight he'd engaged her in the year before. Thwei'ja wasn't sure anymore. He only saw the oddity of having such a weird creature in his pack, especially on a mission like the one they were embarking on. But he supposed it had its benefits. The Avian was from N'-ithya after all. Perhaps her memories of her encounters with the kainde amedha would serve them well in some way. Not to mention the times she'd proven her high intellect with her quick mastery of not only the Yautjan language, but two other languages, besides.

As he heard them board the ship, he made up his mind to tolerate her for a short while longer. By the time they returned, he'd have more important things to worry about, anyway. Chiva was upon the Clan and when they made the return trip to the Jag'dja'd atoll, it would be well on its way to the traditional Hunting grounds chosen for this batch of Unbloods. The Avian would have enough to deal with then, when tensions in the Clan would be at an all-time high.

He put these thoughts out of his mind as he put the ship through its launch preparations. It was time to focus on the Hunt, now.

A/N: So, apology time. I've been so busy, my head is spinning. Schoolwork, family coming to visit, writing, and to top it all off, we're moving to a new house after twelve years. Just a little bit hectic. But I'll try to be more regular with the next update. The actual move happens next week so things should start settling down within a week or two. Anyway, read, enjoy and review!