Chapter 12- Prelude to the hunt.
The council of Elders after a long and heated debate ruled that Alaric, despite nearly killing one of their own as they had all seen firsthand, had passed the clan rites and after a small ceremony, Alaric was formally inducted into the clan. At the great temple of the gods, Alaric in traditional Yautja garb and the markings of initiation painted onto his body stood to attention. Ja'anya and her family where there, as was Kal'deris and the other Elders. They watched as Alaric, after some heavy persuasion knelt in front of the High Elder and the High Priestess of the gods. He was then blessed by the Priestess as the High Elder recited the clan rite transcripts.
Alaric weathered this as a necessary price to pursue the Marked.
Ja'anya was never happier for Alaric.
Alaric was then due for his first hunt and Kal'deris pulled a few strings to make sure that Alaric was in the same group as Kra'vyx. This was done in account for Alaric's distrust of the Yautja he didn't know and the need to make sure no more 'accidents' occured. The hunt was scheduled to take place a few weeks and Alaric would need to have armor and weapons tailored for him while Kra'vyx's group were in their final stages of training. Alaric was more then happy to offer ideas for armor as he found the traditional hunter's armor not very protective and somewhat more revealing than he liked. He took a personal hand in designing and forging his armor. For weapons, Alaric insisted on using only his axes but after some thought he was willing to have a few weapons made for him.
Socially, Alaric was treated with a mixture of suspicion and uncertainty. It was mildly amusing how some Yautja would cautiously shuffle out of the way whenever he walked near them. Defeating Vyl'kar had certainly imposed a new level of respect for him, as well as instilling a certain amount of fear because of his Rage capabilities. However, it also brought forth new challenges from other hunters who where more than eager to take on the Slayer. Despite soundly beating all who challenged him, Alaric was always up for rematches and no one was foolish enough to push Alaric too far.
Alaric was fitting into the Yautja lifestyle, slowly but surely.
Kra'vyx and Ja'anya were at the armory, waiting for Alaric to appear in his new armor. He and the Forgemaster, the venerable Master Smith Val'hariz, had been in the forge for the last two weeks. They could be heard making final adjustments and the smith's grumbling over this new fangled armor design followed by Alaric's tactical comebacks.
Kra'vyx was already parading in his newly finished armor, after having taken a note from Alaric's views about strategic armor placement, getting the feel of it and remembering how it was assembled. He had his kataras in his hands and he was posing with them, finding which stance would make him look the most intimidating.
"What about this, Sister?" Kra'vyx said, striking the fighting stance of Alaric's.
Ja'anya watched her brother. He was heavily armored around his lower legs, torso and forearms. Alaric had commented that Kra'vyx chosen the hoplite armor style. All that he was missing was the large round shield and Corinthian helm.
"Kra'vyx, if you keep moving around like that your armor will wear out before the hunt." Ja'anya warned.
"Just trying to get a feel for it." Kra'vyx muttered as he sheathed his kataras.
Footsteps were heard coming from the workshop and Alaric came walking out, his boots thumping on the floor. Ja'anya's eyes went wide as she saw Alaric in his new armor. In comparison to other hunters, Alaric was more armored. He had armored greaves, and boots protecting his lower legs, while he had segmented armor plates protecting his thighs and groin. His still wore his marine fatigues under all this armor.
On top he wore an armored cuirass covering his ribcage with segmented armored bands coming down his back and over his shoulders. Separate armor plates covered his sides and abdomen. In the center of his armor, just under his collar was his rune engraved in blue enamel. His forearms were encased in armored gauntlets, the left of which held the standard wrist computer.
His mask, specially made for him, had the SAS motto engraved on the forehead. Val'hiriz had no clue what the words meant.
Alaric now looked more like a Yautja hunter. The only thing that was missing was the dreadlocks.
"How do I look?" Alaric asked, muffled by his mask while adjusting his gauntlets. "God, I can hardly see in this thing."
Kra'vyx saw that his sister was just staring at Alaric with clear infatuation in her eyes from seeing Alaric in Yautja armor. He smirked as he saw what was going on.
"Sister." Kra'vyx said, shaking her shoulder.
Ja'anya regained her senses with a slight blush. She walked around Alaric, looking at every detail on his armor. She had imagined Alaric in hunter armor in the past but that was small thinking when she saw him for real. She started trailing her hands all round his armor, feeling it form around his body.
There was just one thing missing.
"We've got to do something with your hair, Alaric." Ja'anya said, sliding her fingers through his hair on his left.
Alaric looked at her and pulled his mask off, refusal plain in his red eyes.
"Hey, I'm not braiding my hair." He objected irritably. "I like my spikes just the way they are."
Kra'vyx snickered as the thought of Alaric with braids crept in his mind. A glare from Ja'anya soon shut him up.
"Well, how about putting decorative bands on where your spikes form." Ja'anya proposed.
Alaric considered the idea. He had seen the dreadlock bands in the markets many times and he had been curious as to how they would work on his spikes.
"As long as I can keep my spikes, I'm in." He agreed.
Ja'anya didn't waste anytime. As Alaric went back to Ja'anya's home with Kra'vyx in tow, she traveled to the market district. She watched as her people went about their business. Hunters of different clans trading in the pelts of beasts they'd hunted. Traders were selling off goods from different clan-ships and craftsman of many different disciplines showing off their wears.
She moved over to the jewelers where the distinctive dreadlock bands were made and she started having a look as to what Alaric might like. There were many different styles and types of bands to choose from. There were simple plain cylinders, intricate web-like wire bands, runic embossed bands, and even some styles that she had never seen before. She picked up one of the silver runic bands and had a look at it.
He might like these bands, she thought.
The jeweler came from behind the wall, working on a decorative bracer and he noticed Ja'anya.
"Oh, you're the huntress with the ooman." He said, putting the bracer down on a work bench.
Ja'anya looked up from the band and nodded in greetings to the trader.
"Yes, I'm with Alaric." She confirmed.
The Jeweler looked around.
"Is he here in the market?" He asked.
"No, he's with my brother. Did you want to see him?"
"Oh, there's no need right now. Its just that I have been so busy with several commissions and other... issues that I've never had a chance to see him."
He saw the band in Ja'anya's hand.
"Banding his hair, is he?" The Jeweler asked curiously.
Ja'anya nodded.
"I'm thinking that he would like the runic bands." Ja'anya said, putting it back.
The Jeweler nodded.
"Judging by his marking preferences that would be an excellent choice." He commented. "How many would you need?"
Ja'anya started calculating the number in her head. It would take a lot more than what an average hunter would use. The Jeweler cut her to the chase.
"Here." the Jeweler said, reaching around the back and pulling out a leather sack.
He handed it to Ja'anya and she opened it. It was full of shining, silver runic bands of various sizes. She picked one out of the sack and looked at it. It was of superb quality, not a single blemish or rough edge, and there was and inlay of midnight blue enamel filling the rune spaces.
"That should cover all of those spikes of his." The Jeweler said with a smile.
Ja'anya reached into a pouch and pulled out several exquisite diamonds, a little something she picked up from those extremists and their arms smuggling. The Jeweler shook his head when he saw them.
"Don't pay." The Jeweler said, raising his hands. "Free of charge, I insist."
Ja'anya looked at him.
"But you made these and earned what ever you were going to sell them for." She said countered.
The Jeweler shook his head.
"I insist." He sincerely stated.
Ja'anya put the diamonds back in her pouch. She looked at the sack, trying to figure out the Jeweler's reasons for giving away such prized works of art.
"Why are you just giving them away?" Ja'anya asked. "These are worth a fortune."
The Jeweler lowered his head.
"My daughter was one of Sil'cais' victims." He answered solemnly, raising his head
Ja'anya gasped.
"I'm so sorry." She apologized. "I shouldn't have asked."
The Jeweler raised a hand.
"Don't be." He assured her. "That bastard is dead and she is at peace now. Consider these a gift of my thanks. It's the least I can do to repay him."
Ja'anya looked at the sack for a second and decided to accept the gift.
"Well, thank you for your generous gift." She said, bowing her head. "I'm sure Alaric will see you when he has time."
The Jeweler nodded as he picked up the bracer he was working on and resumed his work.
Ja'anya made her way back out of the markets, daydreaming about seeing Alaric wearing the bands when she was roused from her thoughts.
Ja'anya felt something bump into her and she staggered a few steps. She looked down and saw a surprising sight. It was one of the two children, the small boy that Alaric had met when he first arrived. And the first thing Ja'anya noticed was that he was wearing blue paint on his skin, imitating Alaric's slayer patterns. He also had two wooden axes in his hands. She looked up and saw his sister and some of their friends who were dressed in the same fashion.
"Sorry, Ja'anya." The boy said before charging back at his friends.
Ja'anya watched as the children ran off, attacking each other and parrying with their sticks. Onlookers watched as the kids ran off, muttering about kids these days. Ja'anya couldn't help but chuckle as she saw this sight. Little slayers off to their next battle.
It seemed Alaric had a little influence on the younger generation.
That same evening, Ja'anya had shown Alaric his gift during dinner with her family. He liked the runes engraved on the bands and said this was the first time he had ever received a present like this. He made a mental note to thank the Jeweler personally.
Kra'vyx remarked that the bands and their runes would suit him perfectly and Zel'tyr was intrigued that a human would don the Yautja hairstyle. Kal'deris simply said he would have to wait until he saw Alaric with them on to judge them.
When Alaric was told that the two kids and their friends had starting painting themselves like he did, Alaric was both surprised and somewhat concerned. He would have to teach them not to get any foolish ideas but at least they didn't have the Rage to deal with.
Throughout dinner, Kal'deris noticed that Ja'anya would occasionally lean affectionately against Alaric's shoulder whenever he pointed at something new or talked about the current subject.
It was there that he started getting suspicious about the nature of their relationship.
Alaric and Ja'anya had both just finished washing after returning home, sharing the shower as was now the norm and Ja'anya didn't waste anytime pulling Alaric out of the shower the moment the water stopped flowing with Alaric almost slipping over and taking Ja'anya down with him. Not that she would have complained.
The bands worked best when the hair is clean.
Obscured in the steam filled room, Alaric was now sitting bare on a little stool. He didn't even have the chance to wrap a towel around himself, as Ja'anya knelt behind him and tenderly started to connect the bands to his hair. She followed the spikes in his hair, following their curving arcs to their base. She applied the first set of bands where his hair met his upper back, sliding and latching them into place in a downward curve pattern and there they fixed to his hair. Alaric scratched his head as he felt his hair react to the bands by twitching.
Ja'anya giggled at his reaction.
"Keep laughing Ja'anya." Alaric said, lowering his hand. "I bet your bands itched when they first latched on your dreads."
"They did, as a matter of fact." She replied. "But after a while, you get used to it."
Alaric felt the next set of bands fit in his hair, in curving line with the small of his back. She then placed the end caps on the spike tips and she shuffled back to look at her work. After quick admiration, she shuffled closer and rested her head on Alaric's left shoulder.
Alaric felt her breasts pressing into his back somewhat deliberately.
"Enjoying your handiwork?" Alaric asked, knowing it was a stupid question.
Ja'anya purred in response, wrapping her arm around him. She felt the side of his head, feeling the draping spikes curl around her fingers. She then moved in front of Alaric with a handful of small bands intended for his sides. She clipped them on the ends of his spikes and she looked at Alaric and her handiwork.
Alaric sat there on the stool with his arms casually down and resting on his thighs, strategically covering himself. The bands in his hair, the water droplets on his skin and his ruby eyes glittered in the light.
It was truthfully arousing to Ja'anya. She started panting and Alaric chuckled.
"From the way you're panting, this is a dream come true, right?" Alaric asked.
He was answered when Ja'anya pounced on him, sending him on his back into the tiled floor with his banded hair jingling like a set of small bells. He found himself pinned to the floor, his hair spread all around him as Ja'anya straddled his waist before resting her head on his shoulder and nuzzling him while purring loudly. Alaric sighed and reached out for a towel laying nearby. He then started drying her back, making her purr even louder.
'I have got to stop pushing her buttons!' Alaric thought with a grin.
There was still one matter that Alaric needed to tend to on a more personal level before the hunt. And that was to visit Vyl'kar to make amends. It was now three weeks after that fateful fight and Alaric was hoping that Vyl'kar would accept his gift.
Alaric spent a lot of time carving a large malachite slab into a life-size mask, using his own mask as a basis for the design. He had gone and carved the SAS motto in Yautja glyphs on the brow, just like his own mask. He thought that it would be fitting for Vyl'kar.
Alaric, with Ja'anya and Kal'deris, entered the infirmary. There were many hunters in cubicles who had taken bad hits and received various injuries during their hunts and also those who had unfortunate accidents on ship. It could well be argued that Vyl'kar was one of those.
Kal'deris led them to the cubicle that Vyl'kar was recovering in. Alaric noticed that some of those hunters who had insulted his father were still here and when they saw Alaric they frantically tried to keep their distance. Alaric smirked when he saw their leader in particular, tumble out of the bed with a loud crack of bone coming from his back. He yelped in pain as an orderly came to put him back in bed.
Kal'deris verified their presence to one of the orderlies assigned to Vyl'kar and they were allowed entrance. Alaric held the gift behind his back as a surprise as the door slid open.
They saw Vyl'kar in the massive infirmary bed, covered up to his waist in a sheet and both his arms stitched up and in splints. His arms were position at his sides and he flexed his fingers in shock when he saw Alaric. All of the cuts and bruises were mostly healed now.
His mate and son were there too and the boy's reaction upon seeing Alaric, was to immediately charge at Alaric in desperate anger.
Alaric felt a flurry of blows impacting on his legs and gut. Kal'deris moved to wrench the boy away from Alaric, but Alaric quickly raised a hand stopping him. Vyl'kar's son obviously need to take his frustrations out on the human who beaten his father to a pulp. The blows were not affecting Alaric in the slightest and he casually scratched his hair, his bands jingling.
Vyl'kar's mate watched while totally perplexed at Alaric's seeming indifference to her son's enraged attack.
"Go ahead, kid." Alaric said softly. "Let it all out."
Alaric could feel the blows getting weaker. Vyl'kar's son was getting exhausted. The boy finally stopped beating Alaric and was now panting heavily and still glaring angrily. He gave one last head butt on Alaric's gut and just stood there leaning on Alaric for support.
"Better?" Alaric asked, patting the child on the head
The boy nodded, worn out by his ineffective assault.
"Run along to your mother." Kal'deris ordered. "Your father and Alaric have some matters to see too."
The boy shuffled off to his mother, muttering to himself. The two then left the cubicle. Alaric and Kal'deris approached Vyl'kar.
"How are you feeling, Vyl'kar?" Kal'deris asked.
Vyl'kar clicked his mandibles.
"My arms are still fractured to buggery, Elder." He said. "But apart from that, I'm just..." He looked at Alaric. "What's a suitable ooman word to describe me being fine?"
"Peachy or Dandy, whichever your prefer." Alaric said, holding the carving behind his back.
Vyl'kar scoffed at the words.
"What strange words you oomans use to describe things." He said. "Why are you here?"
Alaric took a breath.
"I… and this is hard for me to explain, owe you an explanation." Alaric said. "What happened to you was… let's just say… a self defense mechanism."
Vyl'kar frowned.
"You calling these 'self defense'?" The bed-ridden Yautja demanded, gesturing to his arms. "You almost killed me!"
"Be thankful that was all Alaric did." Ja'anya spoke up in his defense. "If you were a Bad Blood, you would not have a chance against him."
Vyl'kar went quiet. He had seen the footage of Alaric defeating Sil'cais and understood that Ja'anya was speaking the truth.
"The Elders are partly to blame too." Kal'deris added. "We admit it was a mistake to continue the fight with the berserker in his... rage. But we had laws to uphold."
Vyl'kar nodded.
"I admit, grudgingly, you're the first warrior, or in that case the first ooman, to ever defeat me in single combat." Vyl'kar said to Alaric.
"And I have to admit," Alaric said, giving Vyl'kar a rare smile. "You were the first Yautja, intentional killers excluded, to ever pummel me like that. If I didn't... snap, you would've seriously knocked me out."
Vyl'kar grunted in agreement over both facts.
"So I hope you will accept this as a gesture of wiping the slate clean." Alaric said.
Alaric shuffled closer and he revealed the gift behind his back. Vyl'kar's eyes went wide as he saw the malachite mask.
"I didn't know what you liked as a gift so I carved this." Alaric said. "It's like a general gift or something."
Vyl'kar was surprised that his defeater had actually brought him a gift. Alaric held the malachite mask closer for the bedridden Yautja to look at, and examine. The level of intricate detail was amazing, a match for even the most disciplined craftsman. He then saw the words and to him they were cryptic at best.
"What do the ooman words mean?" He asked, unable to translate the phrase.
Alaric moved a finger over the words.
"Who dares wins." He said as his finger pointed at each word. "Fortune favors the bold."
Vyl'kar and Kal'deris murmured positively at that description. Hunting and taking down bigger and bigger game was always the main objective for hunters. The more dangerous and near impossible to take down, the more prestige in the clan that would be given. Alaric could tell that the motto was starting to catch on with the populace. Ja'anya smiled inwardly as Alaric and Vyl'kar sealed the rift between them.
It was the night before the hunt and the small group of initiates were spending what could possibly be their last time at home. All the training and learning throughout their childhood would soon come into use as they would hunt for their first kill and earn their place on Lai'Kairis.
They were in the great hall, over at what would pass as a tavern. Kra'vyx was introducing Alaric to his friends. Ly'enta, the striped female acted somewhat giddily when Alaric said hello to her. Fel'tak, the sand colored male nodded at Alaric and the second male, a broad black mottled one named Mal'fax thumped a fist on his chest in recognition.
They all sat at the table while they had food and drink brought out to them.
"You all nervous about the upcoming hunt?" Alaric asked, putting some meat and vegetables on his plate.
The initiates laughed at his accusation as they got their meals.
"Nervous?" Mal'fax said "This is what we were born to do!"
Fel'tak nodded.
"When we reach the hunting grounds, the Kainde Amedha won't know what hit them." He boasted.
"Or you won't when they sneak up on you." Alaric countered, biting into some meat. "You can't kill what you can't see."
Ly'enta spoke up.
"With our masks, they won't be able to hide." She pointed.
"And supposing you lose your mask or it gets damaged, what then?" Alaric questioned.
That made Ly'enta go silent. Kra'vyx started nodding in consideration over what Alaric just said. Mal'fax
"You talk like you have faced Kainde Amedha before." Fel'tak said.
"I have faced bugs many times and they never cease to surprise me." Alaric said. "They way they look at you, behind their eyeless visage, they are constantly adapting and learning. Many a time I've had specific tactics rendered useless after an encounter with them."
Alaric leaned closer to them.
"I'm giving you lot a piece of advice. From my own experiences." Alaric said, making sure they were listening. "Facing the enemy in real life, face to face, is nothing like training. In training, if you screw up an exercise or a combat maneuver, you just get a smack over the head by your trainer and just try again. But out there, in the battlefield, if you make one mistake, your enemy will exploit it and cut you down without mercy."
"I have seen many young rookies ignore orders from experienced marines and just charge into the fray, guns blazing. Apart from a lucky few, all of them ended up going home in body bags or not going home at all. All because they have underestimated the enemy."
Alaric took a swig of ale from his cup.
"Enough of the combat tips, we can bicker about them when we're out there." Alaric said, perking up. "For tonight, let's just enjoy ourselves."
Mal'fax looked down at his plate and he snickered.
"You look at this and you think 'What noise did this make when it was alive?'" Mal'fax said, holding a piece of golden meat in his fingers and showing them.
Kra'vyx looked at the meat and made a suggestion.
"I think it went 'Gnash! Gnash!'." He said, splaying his fingers apart and clapping his hands lightly, mimicking a feral beast's maw.
Alaric looked at the meat and immediately recognized it. He had been eating that kind of meat for a long time. He cupped his hands to his mouth and he started making a guttural grunting sound. The others looked at him.
"Pygmy Ankylosaur." Alaric said with a smirk. "High in protein and you'll need it."
Kra'vyx laughed and Ly'enta gave a small chuckle. Mal'fax flicked the meat into his mouth and chewed a few times.
"Whatever it was, it's delicious." Mal'fax said.
They continued chatting about the coming hunt and boasting about their skills. Alaric listened so as to know his groups strengths and how to adjust for their weaknesses. Kra'vyx was a brawler, intent on getting into the thick of things. Fel'tak boasted about having the most precision out of the group, evidently taking the role of a sniper. Ly'enta had mobility on her side and high level of dexterity. Mal'fax was obviously the heavy muscle and brick wall of the group with a hint of wisdom behind his large exterior.
When Alaric was asked about his style, he just answered that he took a jack-of-all-trades approach with emphasis on adapting to the dangers. His hand axes for speed and his great axe for damage.
"Oh! Have a look at these." Kra'vyx said chuckling while pointing at a bowl filled with some brown glistening things in it.
"What are those?" Alaric asked.
Kra'vyx picked up the bowl and showed him. It was full of fat, roasted insects that partially resembled termites. Only these bugs were all two inches long and rather bulbous. There were long wings sticking out of them that was about the length of their bodies.
"You bastard!" Fel'tak said. "You ordered those!"
Kra'vyx snickered. His friends made disgusted grunts as he offered the bowl around.
"I am not eating one of those." Mal'fax said, pushing the bowl away.
Fel'tak and Ly'enta both pushed the bowl away in disgust when Kra'vyx offered. Kra'vyx muttered how they had no sense of adventure in trying bizarre foods. He held the bowl to Alaric. Alaric looked at the fried bugs and saw the disapproving looks he was getting from the others.
"God, you kids..." He started.
Alaric picked one up by the wings, looked at the crispy insect and without a care he shoved it completely in his mouth and casually tossed the wings over his shoulder. The others were surprised and dumbfounded as he chewed it a few times to illustrate his point and swallowed.
"You, what..." Fel'tak said in disbelief.
"He swallowed it?" Ly'enta gagged.
Alaric smirked. He had eaten his fair share of bugs back on Floria VII on a regular basis. Quite often, he'd had to live on bugs between kills. Not only were they readily available and a great source of protein, but they were sometimes the only reliable food source.
"I'm telling you, these things aren't that bad." He said, picking another up. "I could drink your ale and eat these bugs all night." He bit into the bug and swallowed without chewing before taking a gulp of ale. "It's protein, that's all it is."
"That's the spirit!" Kra'vyx said, slapping Alaric on the back in praise as he put another in his mouth.
Alaric coughed and found that the whole bug had got caught up in his throat and he started gagging. Fel'tak started laughing at this sight while Kra'vyx gave Alaric another slap on the back. Alaric coughed up the bug and, in an act of karma, went flying into Fel'taks open laughing mouth. Fel'tak was now choking while Alaric took a couple of much needed breaths. Fel'tak, having failed to cough it up, had to swallow it.
Fel'tak retched as he felt the bug slip down his throat.
"You really need to know when to keep your mouth shut, Fel'tak." Mal'fax said, biting into some meat.
The rest of the night droned on without any other incidents involving food and talk over the hunt. It was soon time for the initiates to head back to their quarters and to get some vital sleep.
After saying their goodbyes, Alaric and Kra'vyx walked back to Ja'anya's home, planning to get some much needed sleep for tomorrow. Kra'vyx kept talking on about the hunt and what he'd do to the first xenomorph that he spotted. Alaric kept reminding him that as a rookie he still has to watch himself as the xenomorphs are notoriously adaptable.
They arrived back at Ja'anya's home and Kra'vyx bid Alaric a good night, along with a little implying comment about him and Ja'anya before heading back to his own quarters.
Alaric entered their home, blushing after Kra'vyx's comment and saw that all the lights were out. Ja'anya must already be in bed. Alaric shut the door, untied his boots and left them by the door next to Ja'anya sandals. His eyes rapidly adjusted to the darkness as he cautiously walked over to the bedroom, pausing when he saw his axes in their harness. His marine boots and greaves were propped next to them, polished to a lustrous shine to match his axes.
A remnant of the life he had left behind.
He went over the last few months of his life. He remembered how he had nearly died from the Psuedo-Raptors and Ja'anya saved his life. He crushed Sil'cais the Scourged when he threatened to rape and kill Ja'anya. They had become close as the days passed during the journey to Lai'Kairis. Their arrival wasn't as friendly to Alaric as he expected but he made his presence known. Then the clan rites where everyone now knew what he was capable of cemented his place.
He had come a long way the last few years.
He tore his gaze from his weapons and resumed walking.
Alaric entered the bedroom and in the dim light he saw that Ja'anya was already asleep. She was curled up in the center of the bed and was purring softly. The sheets were up to her waist and Alaric could see the contrasting stripes on her body. He could see her fingers lightly grip the bed as she dreamed, pulling the bed lining up in her grasp.
It was moments like these where Alaric could truly see her beauty.
Alaric returned home late, finishing another long and dangerous mission. Now was time for a some well earned R&R. Removing his marine issue boots and gently dumping his pack by the door, Alaric carefully moved up the stairs, mindful of the first step that creaks. He reached the top floor and sneaked over to his room. The door was shut and he gently opened it.
In bed was his wife Sam, fast asleep. Alaric carefully shut the door behind him as he moved towards her. He sat on the bed and just watched as she slept. She stirred but didn't wake up, merely giving a content sigh. Alaric then stripped off his uniform to his vest and boxers and joined her under the covers. He slowly wrapped his arms around her. She murmured in her sleep and Alaric gently kissed her on her cheek.
He then slowly lowered his hand and gently cupped her pregnant belly.
Alaric sighed lightly to himself as he stripped down to his boxers.
'Déjà vu.' He thought ironically.
Alaric carefully moved up close, trying not to wake her up as he sat down behind her. He laid down next to her, sliding under the covers and gently wrapped his arms around her. Ja'anya stirred as she let go of the bed before she instinctively shuffling closer to Alaric, relishing the warmth of his body. Her purring got more relaxed as she clasped his arms.
She then opened an eye, yawning as she looked up at him.
"You alright?" He whispered.
Ja'anya nuzzled his shoulder as he laid back.
"I can't believe it has finally come." She whispered back. "With this hunt, you will become one with the clan."
"I have trouble believing it myself. Only two months ago, I was on a jungle planet, fighting for my life and now here I am. I'm an honorary member of the Yautja race."
Ja'anya didn't answer. She was just staring into space as her head laid on his chest. There was something else on her mind.
"Ja'anya, you seem distant." He said, concerned.
She sighed.
"I'm concerned about the hunt." She whispered. "You and Kra'vyx will be fighting for your lives."
"Yeah?" Alaric said.
She looked up at him.
"I lost my father to the hunt, ambushed by dozens of Kainde Amedha. A part of me doesn't want you to go."
He started stroking her back reassuringly.
"Ja'anya, if I don't go, I won't be considered a member of the clan." He said. "I have fought enough Bugs to know what they are capable off."
"I know, but you faced the Kainde Amedha with your ooman weaponry, at a distance." She said, resting her head back on his chest. "I have seen them tear your people to shreds up close. Any ooman foolish enough to get close were always killed or were... taken."
The horrible thought of seeing Alaric, entombed in a hive and subjected to a xenomorph's violent birth brought a tear to her eye.
Alaric pulled Ja'anya on top of him and she laid there as Alaric sat himself up. She instinctively huddled up to him.
"Don't worry, Ja'anya." Alaric assured her. "I'll make sure we all come back. You have my word."
Ja'anya pulled herself up, sitting on his lap and placed her hands on his chest. Alaric drew her in with his arms into a loving embrace.
"You're word?" She asked. "A promise?"
Alaric smiled.
"When my family makes a promise..." He started.
He brought a hand to the back of her head.
"We fully intend to keep it." He finished
He brought her head close and gave her a tender kiss on her forehead to seal the deal. Ja'anya shivered and purred when she felt Alaric's lips on her skin.
Alaric's first kiss to her since her previous attempt many long weeks ago.
She moved back so they were face to face, their faces close to each other. Ja'anya could see the warm smile on Alaric's face. Ja'anya never felt so loved as she cupped Alaric's face with one hand and the other rested on his chest, slowly rubbing the line between his pectorals and disturbing his tags. She opened her mandibles and gently nipped Alaric's cheeks before gently licking where she nipped him. Alaric lightly chuckled as his hands ventured down to her back, making her purr louder. Holding her at the waist, he gently picked her up off his lap and he gently laid her down so that Ja'anya was now on the bed, her dreadlocks spread around her and Alaric supported himself over her on his elbows.
Ja'anya was panting heavily, arms curled on her chest as Alaric then lowered his head and kissed her gently on her inner mouth, shutting his eyes when they touched. Ja'anya had now shut her eyes too in bliss and her purring was resonating to Alaric's lips as she gently clasped his head and back, urging him closer to her body. Her mandibles gently began dragging on his cheeks as she indulged in her fantasy-come-to-life.
And Kra'vyx wasn't here to ruin it this time.
Oomans are so lucky to have lips, Ja'anya thought. I could get used to this.
Alaric felt Ja'anya's tongue vacate from her mouth and drag along his lips, seemingly intent on setting up residence in his. He opened up slightly to give her passage and her tongue quickly met his inside his mouth. The two muscles then started fighting against each other for dominance in Alaric's mouth. He chuckled softly as her purring intensified, sending vibrations down her tongue and through his.
He pulled back from their kiss and started nuzzling her shoulder for a change. Ja'anya clicked her mandibles as she felt him lightly kiss her between her neck and collarbone, moving her head away to allow him better access.
As he was withdrawing and licking his lips, Ja'anya had other plans in store for him. She firmly locked Alaric in place with her legs and gave him a mischievous smirk. Alaric saw that she had no intention of letting him go. She flipped him over and his bands jingled as he landed on his back with a bounce.
Alaric looked up at Ja'anya as she straddled his waist, pinning him to the bed.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" He smirked.
Ja'anya purred dominantly as she lowered herself, capturing Alaric in another heated kiss with one hand caressing his chest and the other hand reaching lower.
Alaric quickly grasped her hand when he felt her rub a certain part. Her touch felt pleasurable but it was going too far. For now at least.
Ja'anya broke the kiss and looked at him with confusion.
"Alaric?" She panted, thinking she had done something wrong.
Alaric cupped her face reassuringly and she clicked her mandibles in anticipation as he gently rubbed her cheek. He brought her intruding hand up and placed it on his cheek.
"That is for another time." He whispered. "For now, we should get some sleep."
Ja'anya in her aroused mind thought about this and nodded reluctantly. His hunt was tomorrow and he had not gotten any sleep so far. He wouldn't be much good if he fell asleep during a xenomorph ambush.
Ja'anya admitted defeat, for now.
Alaric brought her back down and gave her one last lingering kiss which she enthusiastically answered. She slid off his chest and settled down before burying her face into his neck. She sniffed deeply, filling her senses with his scent.
Alaric was hers. All hers.
Alaric turned on his side slightly to face her and she slipped into his embrace, one arm over his chest and her purrs resonating in her chest.
"We'll make it back, Ja'anya." He whispered as she shut her eyes. "That's a promise."
The hunting party had been assembled and they were all lined up with their masks in their hands in front of their shuttle, all young and Unblooded. Alaric was the only certified warrior amongst them. Alaric stood with his axes holstered and arms crossed. Kra'vyx was clicking his mandibles in anticipation with his kataras at his sides. Fel'tak and Mal'fax had their weapons on their shoulders, Fel'tak with his double bladed cleft stave and Mal'fax with his hammer. Ly'enta had her chain whips at her hips. Their combi-sticks and other hunter gear were stowed in their packs.
Alaric definitely looked the odd one out, being the most armored and the shortest while the rest of the party were sparsely armored and immensely tall. All of them chose the mobility over protection configuration, though Mal'fax had what looked like a thick scale mail shirt covering his torso.
Ja'anya, Zel'tyr, and Kal'deris were with them along with a small following of Yautja, the families of the other initiates. Kal'deris walked over to the young initiatives.
"Initiates." Kal'deris said to them. "All your training has now come to this pivotal hunt. You will now hunt down the ultimate prey and earn your place on Lai'Kairis. I will not lie to you, this hunt and the many others that will follow are dangerous and you may even die during one of them. But as we and our ancestors have succeeded, you shall too." He pointed to the shuttle. "Now, go and fulfill your destiny as hunters of the stars."
The initiates bowed their heads to the Elder while Alaric just nodded. They then turned sharply towards the shuttle and marched up the ramp to the side hatch. Alaric walked up the ramp behind them, stopping as he reached the top. He looked back at Ja'anya, saw Ja'anya's anxiousness and her clicking mandibles and gave her a thumbs up. Ja'anya nodded back at him and he stepped into the shuttle as the hatchway sealed shut.
The initiates moved to their seats and strapped themselves in. They could feel the shuttle lift and hover. The pilot in the cockpit could be heard verifying their departure and with the roar of plasma engines, the shuttle left the hangers.
Alaric watched through a porthole at Lai'Kairis as the shuttle roared with great speed through the depths of the void and within a few minutes, Lai'Kairis was gone from sight.
The young hunters were now on their way.
Inside the shuttle, everyone unlatched their seat harnesses when the pilot told them it was safe to do so. It would be some time before they arrived on the hunting grounds and it was a wise thing to do some last minute checks before hand.
"This is it, my friends." Fel'tak said in excitement. "We are gonna be full fledged hunters."
The young Yautjas got up from their seats and moved around the compartment. Alaric stayed in his seat, putting his mask on and crossing his arms. He was going to catch a few winks.
"How are you gonna kill your first bug?" Alaric asked, resting his head to his side and shutting his eyes.
"First one? I'll slaughter a whole bunch of them!" Fel'tak said, giving his stave a flourish.
"My sister killed three at once on her first hunt." Kra'vyx said getting up. "Try and beat that."
Alaric chuckled.
"I remember on one mission sticking a flamer into an air vent and then squeezing the trigger." He said. "Bugs went swarming out of the vents like molten fire. I counted twenty fireballs falling out. Had to keep clear of them 'cause they have a habit of going pop when set alight."
"How do you mean pop?" Ly'enta asked.
Alaric didn't answer. In fact he had dozed off, judging by his breathing and relaxed posture. Ly'enta was annoyed that Alaric had just fallen asleep like that. Kra'vyx laughed at Alaric's knack of sleeping like a rock.
The pilot checked their course, seeing how long their journey would be. He had made this trip dozens of times, taking the next generation of hunters to their first hunt. And for this trip he was making good time. He calculated that they would be at the hunting grounds with two hours.
A new personal record.
A bleep came from his console. It was an incoming transmission. He checked his instruments and found, oddly, that the signal wasn't identified. He flicked his headset to receive it.
"This is Initiate Shuttle Alpha, who's calling on this line?" The pilot asked.
"Shuttle Alpha, you are ordered to head to the following coordinates, with due haste." An unknown voice replied.
The pilot frowned.
"Who is this? I'm not getting a reading from your end."
"Never mind that, I am one of the Elite caste and I am ordering you to head to the following coordinates."
"What is the reason?"
"That is classified."
"Well, Elite or not, without proper identification I am not changing course."
The console's holo-projector flashed into life and the static laced image of a fully armored and masked warrior appeared. The armor was of Elite manufacture but there were no markings to determine which clan the warrior belonged to, whether it was Lai'Kairis or any other clan he knew of. The fact that this Yautja was an Elite, second only to Elders was enough to change the situation.
The pilot saw the coordinates appear on his console and he raised a brow as he read them. The coordinates were not ones that he was familiar with. In fact, he had never seen them before.
"This can't be right." The pilot said, confused as the warrior's image blipped off.. "According to my navi-comp, there is no hunting planet in that sector."
"Oh, there is a hunting world there. A special one." The voice said. "Strictly... need-to-know information that only special cases get sent to."
"Need-to-know? What is being implied here?"
"I would've thought you knew enough about rank than to start questioning orders."
"But that is not the designated hunting world."
"Pilot, I will not say this again. You are to head to those coordinates for their hunt, right now. Do I make myself clear?"
The Pilot grunted in reluctance.
"Fine. I'll include in my report that I objected to this decision." He said.
"That's better, now get over there due haste." The Yautja ordered.
The coms shut off after that personal note and the pilot entered the coordinates into his navigational systems. He muttered that this was going to throw their scheduling to hell. The shuttle then followed the coordinates and the trip was calculated to take even longer.
Several hours passed and the pilot was coming close to calling Lai'Kairis about this message. An Elite hunter might have authority to change a ship's course but this was a traditional hunt and that was something only the Elders were authorized to do. He would have to check to see if any of the Elders sanctioned this change.
His instruments bleeped and he checked them. The shuttle was coming up onto the coordinates. The Pilot decided to check out the planet before reporting to the Elders. He saw a small ball in the void that was slowly getting bigger.
Then he saw a ball of white in front of the shuttle, getting ever closer. It was a white planet. Readouts started bleeping and projecting and the pilots eyes went wide as he recognized the planet and the reason why it wasn't registered.
This world was one of the few marked as forbidden by ancient law as being far too dangerous for even the Yautja race to survive on!
"By the Ancestors!" The pilot gasped. "Not that world! The initiates won't last for even a day!"
There was no way that the Elders would ever send any hunters, and certainly not Unblooded initiates to that planet. Those orders had to be false.
The pilot made a sharp turn with the controls and the shuttle started to veer away from the planet. However, a few beeps and electronic buzzing from the console soon changed that. The shuttle resumed its trajectory to the planet.
The pilot struggled to regain control of the craft but it was no use. The shuttle controls were overridden by an external source and he cursed as he realized that fact.
Then it dawned on him.
"A navigation virus!" He cursed.
The pilots headset bleeped.
"I am very disappointed that you tried to disobey your orders." The Elite said. "So I have given you a little... nudge in the right direction, so to speak."
"Who is this?" The pilot demanded. "How did you even know about this hunt?"
"Those who aid the Bloodline must be culled."
There was no answer. The pilot cursed and after several more futile attempts to change course did the only thing he could do. Prepare the ship for planet-fall. He pulled a lever on the ceiling and a segmented armored hull covered the canopy. His view was blocked for a second until a holographic display popped up, restoring the view in front of the shuttle.
The shuttle was locked on this course and the pilot was able to keep the shuttle steady at least. When they landed he could issue a call for help. And pray to the gods that help would get there soon.
The Pilot opened communications to initiate a distress call to Lai'Kairis, only to find that the comms were being blocked and the shuttle's transponder had been disabled.
They were for all intents and purposes on their own.
"Gods, watch over us." The pilot prayed before a thought came into his head. "What did that Elite mean by the Bloodline?"
Alaric opened his eyes when he felt a light rocking in the compartment. He saw Kra'vyx and Fel'tak were busy comparing their armor with Fel'tak while joking about why Alaric had worn so much armor. Mal'fax was sitting on the floor, heaving his hammer back and forth. Alaric looked to his side and saw that Ly'enta was resting her head on his shoulder, fast asleep and her fidgeting was the cause of the rocking. He gently roused her from her slumber and got up.
"We're still flying." He yawned, stretching his arms and removing his mask.
"For the last four hours, at this point." Fel'tak said.
"I don't like this." Kra'vyx added. "Sister said her trip was under half that time."
"Well we better get there soon." Mal'fax said, "I can't stand being in this shuttle for much longer."
Alaric looked at the porthole and noticed that it was sealed over by armor plating. In fact, all of the portholes were covered.
The shuttle then started to vibrate slightly. Mal'fax picked himself up in relief. Ly'enta rubbed her eyes and got up as well. She yawned and watched the others check their gear. She mostly watched Alaric, as he made sure his axes were firmly holstered.
It would be informative to say that Ly'enta did seem to have a small crush on Alaric. Not that she knew about Alaric's growing relationship with Ja'anya.
"Finally, we're entering the atmosphere." Fel'tak said.
'Entering' was about to be an understatement.
The shuttle starting rocking more erratically and warning lights came on. Something was wrong with the planetary entry. A sudden lurch nearly made everyone lose balance. Kra'vyx went head first into a wall with a loud thud. Fel'tak laughed at his friend's misfortune before another lurch made him connect to a wall.
"What did I say about keeping your mouth shut?" Mal'fax said as Fel'tak rubbed his head.
"Initiates, get back in your seats and strap in!" The Pilot ordered over the interior comms.
The shuttle's rocking was becoming even rougher and was going seriously off balance. Several times, they thought the shuttle was going into spirals.
"What's going on?" Fel'tak shouted, holding his head as they moved to their seats.
"Isn't it obvious!" Alaric yelled. "It's serious turbulence!"
Alaric thought for a second. Yautja ships were far more advanced then humans and hypothetically they should encounter less resistance but this was getting rougher than a drop in a Cheyenne dropship.
The planet must have some serious storms for this to happen.
"Brace yourselves!" The pilot shouted.
A massive crash was heard as everyone went flying, followed by loud metallic crack and sparks went shooting into the compartment. Alarms went blaring and the lighting cut out in fits and starts. Everyone started heaving themselves up and nursing banged body parts.
"Sod turbulence, this is a crash landing!" Alaric corrected, hurling himself into his seat.
"What the hell did we just hit!" Kra'vyx yelled.
All of the young hunters tried to strap themselves in but the rocking cabin made it nearly impossible to achieve that. Ly'enta was thrown from her seat multiple times while Fel'tak kept losing his grip on the straps. Kra'vyx moved away from his seat to grab Ly'enta and pushed her back to her seat.
"Young ones, brace for impact!" The Pilot yelled back as Mal'fax rammed his harness home.
That was when a thundering crash was heard and the bone-jarring force was enough to make everyone hurl from their seats before another impact caused most of them to impact various walls and each other. The ship then plowed through what ever ground they had crashed into. Not that anyone noticed since they were all knocked out by the violent impact.
Ja'anya sat in her living room, holding one of Alaric's carvings in her fingers. It was one that he had made especially for her. It was a rendition of the shieldhawk in a silver and bronze pattern that Alaric hoped would give her good luck. A silver chain was attached to the hawk's head.
Ja'anya slipped it around her neck and patted it.
The door to her home slid open and Ja'anya saw her mother step in.
"Are you alright, Daughter?" Zel'tyr asked.
Ja'anya nodded.
"I'm fine, Mother." Ja'anya said as her mother approached.
The Elder huntress saw that Ja'anya was worried over Alaric's safety during the hunt. It was evident in her eyes when she saw Alaric board the shuttle. She sat down next to her daughter.
Zel'tyr saw how Ja'anya was holding her hawk pendant.
"Ja'anya, are you worried about Alaric?" Zel'tyr asked.
Ja'anya couldn't lie about it, not to her own mother. Zel'tyr would find out eventually. She just has a way with these things.
She looked up to her mother.
"Yes." She said.
Zel'tyr wrapped an arm around her small daughter.
"I wouldn't worry about Alaric, my daughter." Zel'tyr assured. "From what we have seen of his abilities, I would be more worried about the prey."
Ja'anya didn't answer her. She was just staring into space. Zel'tyr saw that there would only be one reason for her behavior.
"This is about your father, isn't it?" She asked.
Ja'anya nodded.
"I don't want to lose anyone else to the Kainde Amedha." Ja'anya said, leaning her head on her mother's chest. "I know it is all a part of the hunter's way but I just don't want to lose Alaric like we lost Father."
Zel'tyr brought Ja'anya close to her.
"You and Alaric are... close?" Zel'tyr questioned, already knowing the answer but she had to hear it from her daughter's mouth.
Ja'anya nodded hesitantly, not knowing what her mother's reaction would be that she would bond with a human. She was confused when her mother smiled and gave off a low chuckle.
"My daughter is growing up." She said. "Alaric is a fine male, ooman or not. It would be hard to find another with the same qualities as his."
Ja'anya was surprised by her mother's words. Her mother actually supported her choice?
"You're not upset?" She asked.
"You finally have a partner, how can I be upset?" Zel'tyr said. "I knew what was growing between you two for some time. Kra'vyx more or less picked it up, even if he didn't know it yet."
She chuckled.
"Kal on the other hand is only suspicious to this fact. And I just know he'll overreact when he finds out. The look on his face will be priceless."
Ja'anya looked down and clasped her hawk pendant in relief. Her mother accepting her choice for Alaric as a potential mate lifted a heavy load off her mind.
"How long have you known, mother?" She asked, smiling.
Zel'tyr rolled her eyes in mock thought.
"Since right after his duel with Vyl'kar, when I saw you two asleep in each others arms." Zel'tyr answered, giving Ja'anya a motherly hug "You saw the photo of me and your father?"
Ja'anya nodded. She wondered why her mother left it on the table while they were asleep. She had placed it out of the way without a thought.
"Why did you leave it here." She asked, looking up.
Zel'tyr chuckled
"Because you both reminded me of when I and Kra'vyn were your age." Zel'tyr commented. "Your meeting with Alaric was much like mine."
Ja'anya smiled as she remembered the day she saw Alaric. A lone human who fought and defeated a dozen rabid beasts all by himself. A feat that only a few of the greatest hunters could achieve.
"What will Kal'deris think when he finds out?" Ja'anya asked.
"I wouldn't worry about Kal, my daughter." Zel'tyr assured. "I'll take care of him when the time comes."
Ja'anya gave her mother a final hug, which was answered with one of Zel'tyr's own.
"Feeling better now?" She asked.
Ja'anya nodded. Zel'tyr relinquished her hold on her daughter, got up and walked to the door.
"Thank you, mother." Ja'anya said. "I appreciate your support for us."
"I'll always be here if you need me." Zel'tyr assured her daughter.
The door slid open and Zel'tyr walked out as the door slid shut behind her. Ja'anya felt very relieved now that her mother comforted her and was accepting Alaric as soon-to-be family.
Zel'tyr. A brilliant teacher and a loving mother.
How would she have coped without her mother?
Ja'anya had to resist the urge to just give out a long happy roar so she just purred to herself.
She looked down at her hawk pendant. She brought it up to her mouth and gave it a quick peck.
Alaric, she prayed. Please come back alive.