A/N: Here it is guys... the third chapter. I apologize with all my heart for making you wait so long before this got uploaded. Life happened... and I got lazy. Anyway, I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. When I wrote it, it sounded like a filler... ._.

Chapter III

It was early morning when Than'kel and Thel'tana awoke. The planet's large sun had barely broken the horizon when the two Young Bloods began their search anew. They followed the river north, being sure to remain close to it. The Young Bloods did not speak for several hours. Thel'tana could feel the contempt oozing from his friend. The spines on his shoulders bristled in shame.

Than'kel held up a hand and stooped down, examining something in the soft dirt. Thel'tana joined him. They were footprints.

"These are Yan'tekkai's," Than'kel muttered. "I'm sure of it."

Thel'tana's heart leaped inside his chest. They were on the right track. He joined his hunt brother in the dirt.

"We must hurry if we are to catch up to him!" he said.

"It is far too late. Look," his friend said as he tapped the print. The dirt made a muted tapping sound as Than'kel's claw struck it.

"What does this mean, brother?" inquired Thel'tana. Than'kel growled in annoyance, but turned to face his estranged friend.

"He has at least a day's head start on us. It would take at least as long, maybe longer, to adequately locate him. We need to find him now. Paya knows what foul abominations inhabit this accursed canyon."

Than'kel was right. They needed to find their hunt master, and soon.

"Then we must get a move on," Thel'tana stated simply, and continued walking. Than'kel followed suit.

The two remained quiet again, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention. The sun was midway up the sky when Than'kel broke the monotonous silence.

"If we survive this ordeal, I will personally strangle you when we get off this rock. Or find a suitable mate and settle down, maybe father some suckers."

Thel'tana relaxed a little. Than'kel turned his head to look at his friend.

"What about you? Do you plan on chasing Mei-jadhi? Or are you just going to watch as every other male Yautja takes her?"

Thel'tana bristled in anger and embarrassment. He growled a warning, but Than'kel only laughed. It was deep and strong, like him.

"Watch yourself, brother. And for the fact, I do plan on taking her as my own."

Than'kel growled in approval.

"Fine choice, brother. Mei-jadhi is strong for her size, and beautiful. She will make a fine mate for you. Maybe she can put some sense into your head."

Than'kel chortled again at Thel'tana. After a time, the hunt brothers encountered a large rock wall, slippery with the morning dew.

"We cannot climb this wall. We would only fall," stated Than'kel. He walked to left, and tapped on the rock. Thel'tana was going to ask what he was doing when his friend smashed his right fist through the sandstone, creating a large hole. Thel'tana ran over and helped Than'kel clear away some of the rubble.

"You never cease to amaze, brother," chortled Thel'tana.

"Well, when you pay attention in the tracking class, you learn some things!" replied Than'kel. Thel'tana stiffened in embarrassment, and prepared to make a smart remark when Than'kel stepped into the hollow.

"It would appear we have unearthed a cavern. Someone or something was here before us," he observed, pointing out the numerous skeletons that littered the floor.

"Let us search the cavern, and hope we find Yan'tekkai. We will meet up at the northernmost point," said Thel'tana.

Than'kel agreed, and the two wandered deeper into the cave, the morning light gradually becoming fainter, until it was completely dark. Thel'tana switched on his night vision, and Than'kel followed his lead. They continued on, the many bones crunching beneath their feet. Something deep within gave a foul stench, causing Thel'tana to growl in displeasure. Than'kel chortled in amusement.

Eventually, they reached a fork in the cave.

"I will go left," said Thel'tana. Than'kel nodded, and broke right. Thel'tana made his way down the left passage, hearing the hundreds of bones snap under his feet. He stepped on a skull, and the bones popped and crunched loudly, sending jolts of shock tingling up his spine. Finally, the seemingly unending ocean of bones came to an end, giving Thel'tana some peace at last. The quiet gave him time to think, and think he did.

Paya, he was going to pay for this dearly. Maybe with his life if Yan'tekkai died. If they all survived he would probably be exiled from his clan. What would Mei-jadhi think of him then? Thel'tana rumbled in shame. Soon, the path ended at a ledge. Thel'tana stepped out onto it, and gazed in amazement at the opening to a massive cavern. The cave was at least the size of the ship that brought them to this accursed planet, and then many, many times bigger. Thel'tana looked over the edge, and saw tar black water far below.

There was no way across, so he jumped.

Paya, the water was freezing! The temperature of the water sent waves of tingles up Thel'tana's spinal cord. The young Yautja floated upright in the lake for several minutes until his body grew adjusted to the freezing liquid. He searched the high walls for some way to climb to an exit, but found none. With dread, he realized that the exit, if one existed, must be deep beneath the surface. Thel'tana steeled himself for the dive of his life, and dove beneath the water.

Below, everything was black as night. Not even his night vision provided a great way of seeing, but it would have to do; better than swimming blind. When he was about 20 feet below, Thel'tana paused and righted himself in the murky depths, scanning for another cave passage. He found none; just a slough of decaying matter. At that moment, he realized that the lake was littered with decaying material. The material floated in great quantities around Thel'tana, rotting away in the freezing water. He saw small bones, flesh, organs, and carcasses that were half-eaten.

Thel'tana looked below him, but the cave floor was not visible. The lake was hundreds of feet deeper, he realized. The great black maw gaped at him, seeming to reach up and threaten to swallow him whole. This spurred Thel'tana on, as he had no wish to remain in the poisoned water longer than needed. Thel'tana pivoted, to swim north, and nearly swam into a severed head. Closer inspection revealed it to be a Yautja head, half-rotted and shriveled. It was missing a mandible and its left eye. Disgust and grief filled Thel'tana at the horrendous sight, and he quickly swam away.

He finally found a new cave entrance, and eagerly swam to it, more than happy to break the surface once inside. Thel'tana climbed onto the side floor and shook his dreadlocks dry. Now, the long journey out began...

A/N: That was Chapter III! I hope it was worth the long wait, and please leave Feedback!