7: Prime
Prime was in full celebration and parties were everywhere. Music, challenge roars and mating fever were in full throttle when Nracha'var and his crew arrived. They debriefed the council on their travels and show cased the large skull of the creature that killed 14 members of their crew. The fact that the majority of those deceased where of their choosing was not lost on the council and though they tried to question, Nracha'var played deeply offended and quipped back that they should have chosen tougher hunters for the planets they are finding were not for the weak. The council in the end let it go, without any evidence to the contrary they could do nothing, instead gave their condolences and allowed him to place a summons to fill the empty positions.
As Nracha'var entered the promenade of the town square he heard the cheers from the crowd. Applause like that could only mean the Arbitrators had landed. Ugh, it made him ill that such zealots where received like royalty and him, a soon to be living god, was not even looked at twice. Oh things are about to change. He thought as the Arbitrator clan chief and his twin came into view. When the twins saw him they waved respectfully and headed his direction. Thar'n-thwei as per usual stood with an air that made Nracha'var's skin crawl. The fool should be bowing his head to me! He growled to himself. And Kwei-kv'var seemed twitchy. Hmmmm what are those two hiding? he wondered as they approached stopping before him and giving greetings and congratulating him on the promotion to marauder chief. Nracha'var began to regale them with the story of their last hunt.
"However we must cut this short I am afraid," Thar'n-thwei interrupted before Nracha'var could delve too deeply in recalling his hunt. "But the council has summoned us. Perhaps we can catch up in a day or two after the fevered celebrations have wound down."
Nracha'var scoffed. "Afraid to disappoint the females with your lack of prowess?" He jabbed and grinned at Thar'n-thwei .
"On the contrary, that's why I've been summoned, seems there are females who wish to fornicate without resulting in pups." He winked at Nracha'var as him and Kwei-kv'var pressed forward to the council hall leaving a slightly dumbfounded Yautja in their wake as he was approached by a female neither wanted to be around, Kha'cti-pa. They should have known she'd be hanging around the council hall. The twins hastened their pace leaving Nracha'var to her clutches.
As they entered the hall Kwei-kv'var broke into laughter. "I thought his eyes were going to pop from his skull."
"Me too." He chuckled back. "He never misses the chance to jab about my condition, however I have found it does have its perks. I get to mate the younger females who don't want pups yet."
"Lucky." He brother slapped his shoulder in playful jest. "Well at least he can take care of Kha'cti-pa for the time being. She may not hound you, but she is relentless with me, that is, unless he's around."
Kwei-kv'var stopped by the records hall to pick up his new orders, normally the council would just send them forward to Delta, but every year he would come back to Prime to partake in the Fever Celebrations. So his new orders for delta now sat on an encrypted cube in his gauntlet. He would wait to read them once back on board his jumper, but he wondered if the council had finally approved the research the humans where asking for.
"So how are things going on your assignment?" Tharn'thwei asked careful not say any tell tale details aloud.
"Uneventful. Not much to report as the goings on are mundane, but I do get to hunt the surrounding systems. There are many worthy prey around those stars."
"So no females have won you over yet then I take it?"
Kwei-kv'var shrugged his shoulders. "Not really, or at least none have shown interest in a solo hunter." He shrugged again. "At least I get to come home to Prime and blow off some energy now and again." He wagged his bow at his brother. "I'll catch up with you later. I'd like to see how your protégé is progressing. It has been too long since I saw the pup."
"You will be impressed." Thar'n-thwei commented before they parted ways.
Kwei-kv'var decided the festivities down on the promenade look promising for himself. As he made his way through the partying Yautja he spotted a pretty female with pale cream skin and tan stripes. Her dreads were a soft brown. The sweet smell of the n'dui'se coming from her, pulled him in like an earth moth to a flame. As he made his way through the crowd she spots him too. Her purr a soft rumble through the air encourages his pursuit.
He stalks up to her, standing eye to eye, her swaying hips covered by a flimsy leather wrap. His fever courses through his blood. Couples around them begin to give in to the fever and mating sounds and smells begin to fill the air. He roughly grabs her hips, pulling her swaying pelvis into his steadily hardening groin. She splays her mandibles in mock aggression as she lets her hands trail down his chiseled abdomen. As she sets him free from his armor his hands catch her backside as she springs up to his waist wrapping strong legs around him. Their growls and mating moans are only joined in chorus from the other couples fornicating around them.
The Fever keeps most of the Yautja busy throughout the night, but as Kwei-kv'var feels his one night conquest drift into a lazy satiated haze, he sets her on a bench on the edge of the promenade and covers her the best he can. Regardless she'll be left alone. The haze only takes hold of a female if the males seed has taken hold. No one will try to mate with a now pregnant female. Securing his manhood back into his armor he vacates the promenade before he can get pulled into another mating frenzy. It's not like he didn't enjoy it, quite the contrary that's why he made the trip home to Prime, every year, was to partake in the fever events. But nearing his 342nd birth year he was beginning to crave a life mate. He wanted just one mate to travel the stars with him. A desire he dare not voice aloud to any but his brother. Thar'n-thwei understood the desire, but not many others would. The strength of a hunter was not just his kills, but how many progeny he had. And in truth he should stay on the promenade and impregnate as many females as he could, but he was satisfied with the one. He did his duty and now his mind wondered to other things.
Leaving the festivities behind him he headed to the ship yard where all the clan ships, marauders, and jumpers where parked in meticulous order. The Arbitrators' ship was easy enough to spot as one of the largest clan ships there this evening. Normally his brother never brought it down into Prime, usually only sending the clan down in their private Jumpers. But the ship was due some maintenance protocols and as the repair crew came and went between festivities and the Arbitrators themselves let off some steam.
Kwei-kv'var com-linked his brother wondering if he was back from his own festivities. "Come to the training deck." his brother's voice boomed over the com-link. That answered that. He thought as he entered the ship through the loading bay. The training hall was easy enough to locate and the clashing sounds of weapons made it even easier to locate. Entering one of the training rooms a young blood was going through a complex training routine under the watchful eye of Thar'n-thwei. "Good, again!" He barked as he motioned his brother to pick up a weapon and attack. Kwei-kv'var obliged and flanked the youth. The adult males circled and attacked randomly attempting to land blows to the young blood. Most where parried or dodged with surprising speed. Occasionally one would make contact but the youth only grunted and spun out of range to reset up for another barrage of attacks and parries. Kwei-kv'var was impressed with the youth. Where did Thar'n-thwei find this one? He wondered as Thar'n-thwei called for a break.
The barely winded youth, asks in a cheeky tone. "Had enough already?" Kwei-kv'var expected to see his brother correct the youth, but instead broke into a baritone of laughter and the youth joined in, placing his staff against the wall before turning towards both the brothers. "Again tomorrow?"
"Yes tomorrow, get to your books son."
"Yes sir." he nodded to Thar'n-thwei and again to Kwei-kv'var "Good to see you again, it's been awhile."
"Wait!" Surprised Kwei-kv'var motions to the youth. "Your protégé?"
Thar'n-thwei grinned proudly, puffing his chest up. "Indeed. Mei'hswei, meet Set'rath. Who lives up to his name daily."
Kwei-kv'var lets out a breathe, "It seems it has been awhile indeed. Have you taken this pup on any hunts yet?" He asks his brother intrigued with the youth's skill at such a young age.
"He takes me weekly, Sir." Set'rath answered respectfully, before bowing his head to the older males and taking his leave.
Kwei-kv'var looked back at his brother after Set'rath closed the door leaving the twins in the training room. "He was just a pup last I saw him. How old is he now to have such a talent already?"
"Only 33. Can you imagine what his Chiva will be like when he comes of age?" Thar'n-thwei said, his voice full of excitement.
"One of the deadliest, I imagine."
"My thoughts exactly. Until then, I nurture his talents for weapons. He possess more finesse then we did and truthfully I have a hard time keeping up. I have him train with all the skilled Arbitrators and all say the same thing."
"And that is?" Kwei-kv'var asked raising his brow.
"That Cetanu has a hand on this one."
They both stared at the door. "Now that, I believe."
xxxXxxx
