A/N: I been working on this chapter for ages! But school is out for me (until september) so I should be able to upload more often. Thanks for all the reviews! I read every single one and I appreciate them very much! Also thanks to those for following and/or favoriting my story. I'm glad that you guys like it. As usual, feel free to review and i'm always up for suggestions.
Day Three
A small fire blazed close by, supplying little light amongst utter darkness. The three yautja had constructed a makeshift shelter from the leaves and bark and branches of the trees, large enough to fit their party and the fire. The wind was strong and howled constantly, the snow came so fast the team had to rotate to shovel out their shelter just to avoid being trapped. They used the extra fur from the other mad meats to carpet the ground. They had no idea how long the night would be, and had no choice but to wait it out.
Ko'ja was still unconscious- her wounds were, fortunately, healing properly. Mir'ka was examining the chip Thwei-ja had handed him yesterday, paying special attention to the unfamiliar symbol. Thwei-ja sat before him, wrapped in mad meat fur. Jann'ka refused to be still. It had been decided that they were not alone on this planet. Thwei'ja had given a theory, " perhaps the mad meats are being tamed" he had said. The only mad meat not tagged was Ko'ja's first kill. Mir'ka had a bad feeling in his gut. He worried whether this unknown individual was watching them. The best course of action was to feign ignorance of their situation- they had no idea who their enemy was or the enemy's intentions. Ko'ja was also in no position to move swiftly.
"This night has persisted for twenty five hours," Jann'ka said, he'd been pacing back and forth, failing to release the tension building in his body.
"That's longer than night on the homeworld. Or any planet I have ever ventured."
"What do you suggest we do? It's pitch black, even with our masks' night vision the snow will blind our view. I highly doubt any of us would last a few hours out there without this fire." Thwei-ja added.
"There is nothing to do but wait." Mir'ka said, and his brethren squirmed in dismay. Yautja did not do well in small spaces for long periods of time. When he was a pup, he remembered the often brawls amongst the females. Although most endured the cramped spaces, some females had been killed due to the loss of their sanity. He hoped, as much as his brethren, that the storm would pass by soon. If Jann'ka lost control of his mental state, Mir'ka wasn't sure if he'd be able to stop him. The large yautja wasn't the brightest in the group, but his strength rivaled his leader's.
A low groan startled the three; they all looked to Ko'ja as she stirred. She was terribly groggy and kind of dizzy, struggling to shrug off her body's lethargic state. Her back throbbed uncomfortably but there was no pain. She pulled away the fur over her body, and immediately regretted it as a wave of ice cold rushed over her bare skin. She hastily grabbed the fur and wrapped it around her form.
"Why am I naked!" she snarled at her companions.
"It is not like you have anything to show off." Thwei-ja retorted harshly, and received such a sinister stare from Ko'ja that he actually considered apologizing. Instead he stuck up his chin, taunting her.
"I had to remove your armor to apply aid to your back." Mir'ka said. Feline eyes narrowed at those words, but Ko'ja made no further comment. She was well aware of her's leader's strange enamour of her. Sometimes she used that to her advantage, sometimes she found it rather annoying. And it's not that she didn't appreciate his affections- she simply didn't have the same feelings. In the yautja language there are no words for appreciation. Such a concept was translated through physical touch, mainly by grasping one's shoulder and shaking gently or nodding the head with a lowered gaze. Ko'ja did neither of these things. She gathered the furs lying around her shaping them into makeshift nest surrounding her. Then she laid back down, snuggled into her fur blanket and shut her eyes. As fas as she could tell, her brethren were not going anywhere anytime soon. They had removed pieces of their armor and had weapons laid out all over the fur covered ground. She wouldn't waste this opportunity to rest and heal. Mir'ka clicked his tusks lightly as he watched her burrow into her small nest. He imagined she would do the same actions when impregnated with his pups.
"Are you seriously fantasizing right now." Thwei-ja grumbled. Mir'ka often daydreamed of Ko'ja. When they succeeded in the their trials and became blooded warriors, he had every intention to initiate the mating ritual. Until that moment he had to give her every reason to accept his proposal.
"Only Paya knows when this wretched storm will pass." Jann'ka seethed loudly to himself; his paranoia was ignored.
Yeyin'ja had a bad feeling about this trial. He knew something was wrong, but there wasn't enough evidence to truly prove if his instincts were leading him right. He witnessed the hunting party be attacked by a group of mad meats, a feat that was rather peculiar. He'd never seen so many together, as the species typically avoid one another unless it was their mating season. He'd also watched as the youngbloods pulled chips out of their preys' flesh. With his mask he enhanced his vision, magnifying the object enough to see its details. It seemed like a plain tracking device, roughly made with worn spare parts. His mask further dissected the chip, analyzing the elements composing the materials.
He was certain the chips were made with metals found on the homeworld usually used for creating toys for yautja sucklings. The metal was sturdy enough to not be broken by the infant pups, but an adult could easily shatter them. He was sure whoever made the devices was yautja, and must have a superior engineering skill to be able to construct such a device with fickle materials. As much as he wanted to explore the enigma he had to stay put. His mission was to watch the hunting party and he was interested in what they would do with such a twist in their first trial.
The group had built a shelter and were waiting out the storm. If the Gods were kind to them the storm could last a few days more. His full body armor provided complete coverage from the cold, so he lurked on a branch large enough to bear his body. The party had confined themselves in their hovel for two days. He wondered how Mir'ka managed to keep Jann'ka inside for so long. He knew the young blood had issues with being confined.
Sometimes, when his mind was less occupied, he would remember the day he and his brothers discovered Jann'ka. They had raided a Bad Blood hideout intending on destroying every single Bad Blood in sight, but the whole clan escaped. The clan had cleaned out the base, not leaving a hint that they had ever lived there besides a grotesque sight that had given Yeyin'ja bad dreams. What was left behind was a mass of corpses -all female yautja- sloppily thrown into a pile that was higher than Yeyin'ja. And kneeling amongst that pile was a pup as quiet as the dead. He had lost his dame and was holding her hand. M'ndhi had recommended the pup be brought to a female clan to foster him until he was of age to care for himself. But the Elder thought differently. Their leader knelt by the pup, placing a reassuring hand on his head.
"We can find you a suitable host to care for you, or you can join us and one day avenge the degenerates who murdered your dame. The choice is yours little one." and ever since Jann'ka had dedicated himself to the Sun clan. Strangely, the pup had been unwilling to share any information about the Bad Bloods who had tortured his dame's clan. It was speculated that the Bad Bloods could have given him a serum affecting the brain in such a way that their secrets could not be leaked. Another theory was that the pup was too scared of the repercussions of speaking against his tormentors. But Yeyin'ja had seen a pure rage within the young blood. He hid it well, but it was there. Yeyin'ja knew for sure that Jann'ka wanted to take on the Bad Bloods himself- and perhaps that was for the best. Who better to serve justice to the Bad Bloods than the one they had taken everything from?
The night had yet to break. Mir'ka and Thwei-ja found comfort in sleeping, just as their feline companion had. And Jann'ka did manage to slip in a few hours of rest. But he was on the verge of losing his mind. He understood staying in the confines of their shelter was for the sake of survival, but he had experience with being caged- and although those terrible times were years ago the invisible wounds he had thought scarred over were starting to bleed. He tried busying himself with cleaning his weapons, his armor, and even his teammates weapons when he ran out of things to do. He fiddled with his mask, fiddled with his own fingers. He had to go outside, he couldn't take it anymore.
"Shhh," the soft sound came from none other than Ko'ja as she approached him silently. He stared at her intensely, wondering how she could have sensed his distress when moments ago she was slumbering.
"You're making too much noise. Relax, save your energy."
"I cannot be here for one more second." Jann'ka snarled, not intending to sound harsh but his anxiety was at an all time high. Memories he'd hadn't thought on for years had come to him in an unforgiving rush. His dame holding him tightly against her frail body, the males forcing him away from her, her pained wailing, the metal collar they clasped on her neck as if she were a wild beast, and the chains they tightened to her wrists and ankles. He struggled fiercely, but he was small, there was nothing he could do to help her. He had never felt so useless. And then they raped her. All eight of them. And when it was over she curled into herself, shamed and violated. They shoved both him and his dame into a barred cage, and they were shocked with high voltage electric currents whenever too close to the bars. Jann'ka sunk to his knees and grasped at his chest, the memories hurt too much.
Ko'ja kneeled before him, and with a movement so quick it was impossible for him to see it coming she grasped his head, her hands specifically placed over his ears, and touched their foreheads. He didn't get the chance to question her as she began to hum. The sound coming from her soft and sweet, like a lullaby he knew his dame had sung to him but he couldn't quite remember the tune. She continued her song for a while, and by the time she stopped Jann'ka was soothed.
"See? All is well." Ko'ja assured. Jann'ka purred and lowered his eyes and nodded his head. Ko'ja sat close to his side, finding extra warmth in the proximity.
"I was thinking of going hunting soon. Unlike yautja, I cannot outlast this storm without food. While no one was looking I tried a bit of the mad meat- don't give me that look! I was starving! Either way it tasted awful and didn't sit well in my stomach. If you'd like, you can come with me."
"Mir'ka does not want us to-"
"-We have the furs. We should be venturing out instead of staying cooped in this tiny shelter. I have a very keen sense of hearing and smell, better than a yautja. We do not need to see to find prey." Jann'ka looked to Mir'ka and Thwei'ja nervously. Both were in deep sleep.
"I would feel better if you were with me. Two is always better than one. And I will be your eyes. Trust in me." Ko'ja said, her eyes- the color if ice- shining with confidence and determination. Even if he said no, she would still go off on her own. He wondered why she didn't argue with Mir'ka about leaving, but he knew his leader was just as stubborn. His leader would not want to endanger her.
"Alright, I will follow you."
The ground had accumulated nearly six feet of snow. The storm had slightly calmed, the snowfall was still in great abundance, but the wind had lost its strength. Jann'ka and Ko'ja were dressed heavily, from head to toe, in mad meat furs. They left behind their sleeping brethren and ran off into the trees. The jungle had changed completely in appearance. The snow seemed to have a strange effect on the tree leaves, as all of them have camouflaged to white, the tree barks became darker, creating a striking contrast to its white surroundings. The sky was a dark grey, a lighter hue compared to the previous obsidian black.
"Look." Ko'ja said, and pointed to tracks of a group of small, fresh, paw prints. She could smell the urine from another species, it was strong and bitter, but it couldn't have come from a mad meat. Their urine was almost unbearable to smell. She urged Jann'ka east, following the path of the prints. These animals had three pads on their feet, with deeper impressions on the front two toes, indicating they walk on their toes. They followed the clues, and found themselves by the river bank where the prints ended. The river itself had been frozen solid, with a layer of snow on the surface.
Ko'ja kneeled on the ground and sniffed the prints, finding a hint of a pungent smell. She closed her eyes and honed her sense of scent. It continued east but not that far. She took off her mask, finding it useless with so much snow- if she had her hands on a mask like her Elder's she could easily use an infrared system that could easily track the warm bodies of animals. Although yautja have a natural vision similar to seeing in infrared, their vision best worked on the homeworld where the environment is sweltered and every organism has a body temperature well above a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. However, on such a cold planet, Ko'ja's companions had to depend on their masks. And their masks were useless in such a storm. Ko'ja looked to the east, squinting her eyes.
"I see them!" she pointed to a tree; perched on a branch were small mammalian-like creatures, with eyes like red beads stuck on round furry face and skinny, black, legs bearing the weight of a fat form, and long brown feathered wings protruding from their shoulder blades. Jann'ka purred in delight, grasping her shoulder and pressing gently, a silent way of saying 'good job'. The large yautja sprung into action. He pulled out a combi-stick from his belt and with a flick of his wrist the stick extended into a spear with blades on both ends. His movements were precise and quick for a yautja of his size. He threw the spear and it jammed into a nearby tree with three of the creatures in its grasp. The other animals began to scatter in panic; Ko'ja took out a few of her shuriken and managed to lethally strike two of the animals before they all flew away.
"Will this amount suffice you?" Jann'ka queried, as he went forward to retrieve their prey.
"Sei, but this is not enough for the whole team."
"We do not hunger like humans. You know this." Ko'ja clenched her jaw, she hated when they compared her to humans. Jann'ka tied together the five animals by their feet with a wire and secured them over his shoulder. She followed behind him, even though he had no idea which way to go. Eventually he came to this realization and let her take the lead.
"You should let me teach you how to navigate. It's not that hard, once you have a good grasp of the basics- which I think you missed somehow."
"Missed?"
"Navigating is more than looking at the sun and position of the stars. Its observing nature itself. See, look," Ko'ja came up to a tree.
"The position of a sun and its rays on a planet can affect how trees grow. The tree branches tend to lean heavier on the side receiving the most sunlight. Even at night, you will know that this is south and the other side is north." Jann'ka clicked his tusks,
"The Elder taught you these things?"
"H'ko, I read them in books. I learned many things from books."
"I admit, reading is not my strongest subject." Ko'ja's lips twist into an amused smirk,
"You are big, and strong. Big and strong will get you far, but if you want to go farther, you should develop your mind." her words seemed to resonate within Jann'ka. The Sun clan was not particularly known for being the most scholarly, but if he wanted to rise higher in rank it would take more than training his body.
"Sei-i, you are right. Perhaps you would be willing to teach me?"
They were halfway from their campsite, when seeing Mir'ka approaching them. At first, Ko'ja was glad to see him- though a bit frustrated that he had left the shelter. Did he not trust her to find her way back? But as their leader drew closer, his long strides quickening, she knew something wasn't right. Jann'ka paused and dropped the animal corpses, as he emitted a low growl. Ko'ja could feel the tension in both of them and stepped between them, hoping to diffuse whatever was forming.
"Mir'ka." she started gently, but the anger she could feel from him, like standing dangerously close to an intense fire, forced her into a defensive stance.
"Move Ko'ja." Jann'ka said, and that's when their leader charged. Jann'ka pushed her out of the way and took the full brunt of Mir'ka's assault.
"Stop this!" Ko'ja screamed at them, but it was no use. It was just like before, in the training area. She knew she wasn't in heat, it would be another month before she had to take that into consideration. She had no idea why her leader was acting this way.
Mir'ka was on top of Jann'ka, pounding at his face, until Jann'ka grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him to the side. In a haste, he grabbed him again, and smashed him against a tree. Mir'ka recovered fast and barreled into Jann'ka, lifting the large yautja over his shoulder and then falling back, the full brunt of his weight crushing Jann'ka into the ground causing him to roar out in pain. Ko'ja was frightened, but she had to stop them somehow. She had no idea what she was doing and she didn't take anytime to think on it. She rushed to the fighting pair, and jumped on Mir'ka wrapping her legs around his neck and pulling at his mask. She felt him grab her painfully by her biceps, and threw her. She landed on snow, and tried to stand but a petrifying roar sealed her to the ground. Mir'ka was stomping towards her, a boiling rage in his movement. He grabbed her rough, clenching her arms in an iron grip with one hand, and pinned her to the ground. He pulled at her furs, ripping the lower half away, and once flesh was exposed he spread her legs.
"Mir'ka please," Ko'ja was on the verge of tears
"Stop, don't do this to me." He was far gone. And if she had been alone he would have committed a dishonorable and unforgivable act. But Jann'ka came up behind him and forced his leader into a choke hold.
"Your presence is what is causing this!" he shouted,
"Go!" She didn't hesitate. She took the animal corpses and escaped further into the jungle not once looking back.
Thwei'ja had never seen Mir'ka so enraged. It began when his leader had woken to find Jann'ka and Ko'ja missing. Thwei'ja had been awake for a couple of hours, warming himself by the fire. He didn't care that the brute and feline of their group had left the shelter. On their own they would return...or not. He didn't particularly care for either of them. But his leader had different feelings.
"Where is she!" Mir'ka had snarled, his mandibles flaring,
"They will return of their own volition. You ought to calm down." but his leader became more flustered. They all knew how head strong Ko'ja was, the most anyone could offer her were suggestions for she only obeyed the Elder. Somehow the feline had bewitched Mir'ka, and her spell has made him evermore obsessive. Thwei'ja could finally see, clearly, the power of her enchantment. It wasn't that the feline had left. Jann'ka had accompanied her. She was in the company of another male, one who was more of a threat to Mir'ka's authority than Thwei'ja. It was obvious that instinct was the main perpetrator here.
"I will go look for them, stay here." Mir'ka said, and before Thwei'ja could argue his leader left in a hurry. He huffed to himself, and clenched the furs closer to his form. Of course he had no interest in the human- and neither did Jann'ka- but it was insulting to be seen as the weakest. He was smaller than the average yautja, he was skinnier than the average yautja; he had to rely on brains to survive amongst his own species.
His dame had done him a favor by not killing him as a suckling, but she had treated him poorly though not as harsh as his other brothers and sisters. They had picked on him, often beat on him, and often he starved for days as his own siblings would withhold food from him. He learned nothing from his mother. He taught himself to hunt. He taught himself to read and write. He read as many books he could get his hands on. Before he was the appropriate age to leave his dame he ran away. He had been alone for so many years. Then ended up stuck in densely populated city, called Syrath, counseled by few female yautja- the rest of the citizens were either slaves, merchants, or veteran male yaujta. Three districts encircled the palace where the females lived. The first district was closest to the palace, where yautja who had grown tired of the hunt retired immersing themselves in books or politics. Sometimes other important diplomats from various planets resided there as well, though they never stayed long. The second district was where the merchants set up a massive market, selling and trading amongst one another. The third district was where slaves worked fields and raised cattle. All slaves were from another planet that the yautja had conquered. Thwei'ja had found a home in the third district.
He had no money so he usually stole from merchants during the day, and by night he would sleep peacefully with the slaves who had taken him in. They couldn't afford to feed him during the day-they could hardly afford to feed themselves- but he was always welcome during supper time. They'd been so kind to him; they had taught him that compassion does exist in his cruel existence. He had hoped to live with them forever, until he was caught for stealing metal parts from a Ryn'Marian merchant. The penalty for thieving was severe, but after presenting a talent for machines- a talent he often used to help the slaves- the merchant kept his crime a secret. In return for not warning the authorities he had to work for the merchant. By then he was nearing his teenage years. That day he had been running errands for the merchant; he had been walking through the crowded streets of the city, pushing and shoving his way through a narrow street. He remembered how awfully hot it was that day and how disgusting it felt to be surrounded constantly.
He was almost at his destination when the crowds began to disperse. Everyone was being ushered to the side by male yautja bearing the symbol of the sun tattooed on their bare chests. Behind them was the tallest yautja he had ever seen, strutting with regal confidence. His locs were greying, and were long- almost touching the back of his knees. It was the first time Thwei'ja had ever laid eyes on an Elder. He immediately knew this was his chance to finally prove his existence mattered. Even though he was an abnormality in his species he still deserved a chance to be part of a clan. He couldn't take on any of the yautja before the Elder- he wasn't stupid. So he used his most valuable asset that had kept him alive. He used his brain. Fortunately he happened to have something of great worth in his possession- something he was willing to gamble. Now all he had to do was gain the Elder's attention. He hastily scanned the area, and found the perfect place to stand upon to be seen by everyone. Once in position he took out a red jewel, a rare mineral that could only be found on a specific planet, and spoke the details of its value loudly. He knew yautja- especially high ranking yautja- love expensive things, and the Elder fell for his trap like a fish snared by a hook. Once the Elder had become interested all other pursuers backed off. He made a deal with the Elder,
"You can have the jewel, if you make me your student." and the rest was history. He left the city of Syrath and immediately begun training. And the training was what he imagined the darkest parts of hell would be like. He had to work twice as hard than his brethren. Some of them picked on him, but Mir'ka had his back on multiple occasions, and when his leader wasn't there he was quite adept at defending himself. He was small, but he knew how to fight. The only young bloods capable of defeating him was Jann'ka and Mir'ka- and perhaps Ko'ja, although he would never reveal that outloud.
Silently he could admit to himself that the ooman was just as clever.
He wasn't thinking at all. The same words chanted in his mind over and over again- she is mine, she is mine, she is mine, she is mine.
Nothing else mattered.
He didn't remember the fight with Jann'ka, he didn't know his brother's fate. When he finally came to his senses he was by the river, sniffing at Ko'ja footprints. They led into the river, which he knew was dangerous as the surface may or may not had solidified. Beyond the river he saw none of the prints, and her scent ended where her prints ended. A gaping hole stuck out amongst the white on top of the river. She had fallen inside, and he felt like the worst creature alive. He hadn't known what had come over him. First, when he woke up in the shelter, and discovered his teammates gone an unknown anger began its ascent inside him. Knowing that Jann'ka, the largest young blood amongst them, was alone with the female he had sights on. Something primitive, a biological design forged into his DNA, awoken within him. And the moment he stepped outside of the shelter it took over him entirely.
She is mine, she is mine, she is mine.
And when he saw her with Jann'ka his instincts went haywire. She is mine, she is mine, she is mine.
Mir'ka sunk to his knees- she was gone. He felt a heavy hand grasp his shoulder,
"We will search for her, together." Jann'ka said. Mir'ka shoved his hand away, as if the touch burned him. He didn't deserve any reassurance. Why wasn't Jann'ka pummeling him into the ground?
"She is gone. I killed her."
"No, she is alive. I have said many times, she is resilient." Mir'ka looked to the large yautja. Jann'ka's mask was off and a nasty, dark purple bruise was inflaming around his right eye.
"You are not angry with me?" Jann'ka grimaced,
"I should rip your head off. But finding the Elder's pet takes priority." Mir'ka clicked his tusks roughly.
"She went into the river. If she does not drown first, the cold will certainly take her."
"If she is dead, it is our duty to find her body. You know the rules." Mir'ka stood and looked down the river; he was the leader of the hunting party. He needed to at least act like it.
Ko'ja ran blindly, trying to create a greater distance between Mir'ka. She didn't know what happened to Jann'ka, but her burly protector had not been able to contain their leader. He was releasing powerful hormones, the smell was like inhaling black smoke- it was suffocating. Mir'ka had always been the calmest of them all, and especially doting towards her. Was it truly her fault that his mood turned so sour?
Ko'ja reached the river and without hesitation ran across. Little did she know the river had not entirely froze. She was halfway across when a patch of ice broke around her and she slipped into the water. The river still moved underneath the ice and snow, and she was rushed further and further away from the opening she had fallen through. She held her breath for as long as possible, and slapped at the frozen barrier above her. But it was no use.
Her lungs couldn't take it and she breathed in, she felt as if needles were being forced down her throat and nostrils. Tears welled in her eyes, she didn't want to die this way. Cetanu sent for warriors who died on the battlefield, to be killed by the elements was shameful. I don't want to die, Ko'ja heard her own voice echoing in her conscious. She tried to struggle on, but she couldn't fight the oncoming blackness curtaining over her eyes. She fought until the darkness took her. Her body went still, and the river did with her as it pleased, leading her down it's length.
Eventually the river slowed into a lake that stretched on for miles. Underneath the lake heat rose from deep within the planet, warming it and melting the snow. Her body floated aimlessly, and gradually found itself near shore. A silhouette appeared from behind trees, cautiously stepping towards her. It poked her with the blunt end of a staff. When she didn't move it came closer and pulled her out of the water.
